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TOM     TRUCK; 


•». 


THE    WIZARD     CREW. 


BY    HARRY    HAZEL, 

aVTHOR     or   THE    "DOOUKn    SQIP,"   B»0. 


New  Yorki 
KOBERT   M.    DE    WITT,    PUBLISHER, 

No.   33   KosE  Street, 

(JSetween  Diiane  and  FranUfi.rt  Streetg.) 


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cannot  tail  lo  intere.it  and  astonish.  'J  here  is  a  v.ild-  fables  of  ancient  mythology.  Ko  one  can  commeno 
nrs3  and  tajscina'iou  about ''  life  on  the  ocean  wave  "  I  the  perusal  of  a  re;>lly  fcool  sea  story,  snc"i  as  is  erni 
fully  appreciated  by  landsmen,  who  can  find  no  better  '  braced  in  the  above  series,  and  leave  it  for  the  insfan' 
loading  than  in  narratives  of  naulical  daring.  It  is  |  unread,  so  powerful  arc  the  incidents  described,  and  a 
true  that  eiagular  siipeistitioDS  haunt  the  brain  of  the  1  charming  their  surrouadia^a. 


Published  by  ROBERT  M.  DE  WITT,  No.  33  Rose  St.,  New  York. 


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'v^a   * 


TOM    TRUCK; 


OB, 


THE    WIZARD    CREW. 


CHAPTER    T 

BT.   JAGO. 

Do  you  know  where  St.  Jago  de  Cuba  is  ?  It  was  once  a  great  citj 
on  the  eastern  end  of  Cuba — one  of  those  cities  built  by  the  early  con- 
querors, and  which  even  now  preserve  so  much  of  the  character  of  the 
old  Moresque  architecture,  which  has  been  perpetuated  in  all  Spain 
and  the  colonies  that  eraacated  from  it,  since  the  days  when  the  Arabs 
ruled  the  Iberian  peninsular.  The  thick,  massive  walls  of  coral  rock 
seem  as  if  they  were  intended  to  resist  an  enemy,  and  th)  narrow- 
grated  windows  make  every  house  seem  a  castle.  That,  however,  is  not 
the  reason  of  the  great  thickness  of  the  walls,  which  were  constructed 
for  the  purpose  of  shutting  out  the  heat  of  a  tropical  climate.  Such 
was  the  general  appearance  of  the  town ;  and  one  of  the  most  charac- 
teristic buildings  was  the  Povada  of  the  Senora  Capella,  an  old  mona«- 
tery  which,  by  the  gradual  decay  of  old  Spain  and  her  colonies,  had 
subsided  into  a  simple  inn,  frequented  exclusively  by  the  officers  and 
crews  of  the  national  and  foreign  vessels  which  visited  Santiago.  The 
river  was  in  the  back-ground,  and  far  away  in  the  distance  sheno 
the  glorious  prospect  of  a  southern  sea.  The  sunset  had  all  the  gor- 
geous peculiarities  of  the  southern  ocean,  the  rose  and  orange  hues  ming- 
ling together  and  fusing  themselves  into  tints  which  Poussin  might 
envy,  and  which  Coreggio  could  not  imitate.  Far  in  the  distance  lay 
•  dark,  low,  mysterious  vessel,  the  black  hull  of  which  shone  in  the  tropi- 


Mje8659;e 


8  TOM   TRUCK  ;    OK, 

cal  sea  .ike  a  spot  on  the  sun.  TLis  mysterious  vessel  had  acquired  a 
peculiar  interest  in  the  island,  and  was  known  to  all  us  the  "  Wizard 
af  the  Wave."  Far  in  the  distance,  half  hidden  by  the  long  point 
•which  nearly  shelters  Santiago  from  the  sea,  lay  the  hull  of  another 
vessel,  too  far  removed  even  to  permit  the  tapering  masts  to  be  seen. 
The  two  vessels,  in  model,  seemed  fac  similes,  and  there  were  some  who 
thought  that  the  one  was  but  a  shadow  of  the  other. 

The  Sefiora  Capella  was  keeper  of  the  principal  fonda  of  the  city, 
whither  came  all  the  notabilities  of  the  town  and  the  officers  of  the  ves- 
fiels  which  from  time  to  time  visited  the  harbor  ;  and  on  the  night  we 
speak  of,  early  in  the  present  century,  it  was  crowded.  Montaneros 
and  Guajiros  drank  and  smoked,  chattered  and  sang;  but  amid  all  the 
orowd,  one  party  became  visible  and  distinct. 

Just  in  front  of  the  window  was  a  table,  at  which  sat  Hugh  Hear- 
ten, master  of  H.  B.  M.'s  Wizard  of  the  Wave,  Caleb  Cutbody,  surgeon 
of  the  same,  and  Weevil,  a  mate  of  the  Wiz;ird.  Not  too  far  removed 
to  be  out  of  the  reach  of  conversation,  but  too  far  to  mingle  in  the 
society,  sat  Ralph  Raddle,  an  able-bodied  seaman. 

At  anof'"T  table  was  Faraguez,  lieutenant  of  the  governor  of  San- 
tiago— and  an  individual  rejoicing  in  the  name  of  Ralph  Raddle,  sat 
solitary  and  alone  on  a  stool  by  himself.  In  the  back  part  of  the  room 
were  many  sailors,  and  on  the  outside,  peasants,  men  and  women  cf  the 
island,  danced.  At  the  time  when  our  story  opened,  every  voice  seemed 
extended  with  mirth. 

Hearton,  the  master,  in  the  uniform  of  his  grade,  a  good,  substantial, 
healthy-looking  man,  sat  on  the  riglit  of  the  table — two  of  the  other 
sides  of  which  were  occupied  by  Cutbody  (the  doctor)  and  Weevil — 
and  burst  out  in  the  following  exclamation,  the  rationality  of  which 
none  will  dispute  : 

"  Curse  on  their  noise  !     Doctor,  can  you  not  anatomise  them  ?" 

The  surgeon  was  busy  with  an  olla^  a  Spanish  dish,  but  one  to  which 
all  sojourners  in  las  antillas  have  a  natural  proclivity  ;  he  waked  up 
and  began  to  speak  Before,  however,  we  record  the  doctor's  words,  it 
may  be  as  well  to  describe  his  personalities.  He  had  on  a  white 
monkey-jacket,  which  betokened  him  to  be  a  sailor ;  a  white  vest,  of 
spotless  neatness,  which  declared  him  a  gentleman  ;  and  the  tight 
pants  and  gaiters,  which  all  doctors,  from  Panglass  to  the  present 
"■ime,  have  worn.     The  doctor  was  fond  of  a  joke,  and  said : 

"  Anatomise  them !  bless  you,  master  !  that  would  be  easy  enough, 
d  I  had  my  instruments.  Your  argument,  hcTCver,  is  rather  too 
much  even  for  a  doctor  cf  medicine." 


THE   WIZARD    CKE^f.  9 

"  Curise  your  landsman  learning  !  Tell  me,  though,  doctor,  why  in 
biases  does  not  the  sun  burn  these  devil's  imps  of  natives  as  it  buriMi 
us  ?  Why  do  they  dance  away  as  if,  like  Nova  Scotians,  they  wanted 
to  dance  out  the  cold  ?" 

But  Mr.  Weevil  spoke.  He  was  a  little  anatomy  of  a  man,  like  a 
skin  of  parchment  over  one  of  the  skeletons  Cutbody  used  to  study. 
His  little  round  jacket,  red  waistcoat  and  big,  sailor's  trousers  of  fine 
duck,  by  the  bye,  told  exactly  what  he  was — a  mate. 

'•  Lord  love  you,  doctor !"  said  Weevil ;  "  weatlier  is  nothing  to 
them.  They  would  dance  in  Davy  Jones'  locker,  if  the  lid  was  shut 
down.  Never  mind,  though,  let  us  go  back  to  first  principles  and  the 
argument.     Now,  as  I  told  you,  listen  to  me  : 

"  You  are  under  a  stake  out  on  the  foretop,  all  else  close,  a  lee-shore 
a  league  on  your  larboard,  and  the  eddy  where  I  told  you.  Now  what 
would  you  do  ?" 

Hearton  thought  for  a  moment,  and  dipping  his  fingers  in  the  glass, 
began  to  make  all  imaginable  diagrams  on  the  table.  At  last  he  said, 
''  Listen  to  me,  and  I  will  show  you.". 

We  will  not  repeat  their  scientific  terms,  though  they  shouted  them 
loud  enough  to  be  heard  at  the  other  end  of  the  city  ;  but  at  last 
Halph  Raddle,  who  had  been  a  quiet  looker-on,  advanced,  hitching  up 
his  trousers — which  he  wore  in  true  seaman's  fashion — as  he  did  so. 

'•  I  daren't  know  as  to  that ;  but  she  be  woundy  quick  to  sail." 

"  Caballeros,"  said  Fcraguez.  advancing  to  the  party  ;  "  they  say 
that  vessel  is  the  '  Wizard  of  the  Wave '  " 

'•  You  are  right,  Mr.  Spaniard,"  said  Raddle. 

"  Caramba,  that  is  true  ;  they  tell  me  her  captain  is  the  devil." 
D — u   your  eyes,  Jack   Spaniard  !  did    you   call   my  captain    the 
devil  ?     Call  Charley  Falkuer  the  devil  !" 

The  surgeon,  when  he  saw  the  sailor  square  off  in  regular  Somerset* 
shire,  crossed  in  front  of  them,  and  briefly  uttered  the  word  "  Atten- 
tion !"  Ralph  at  once  dropped  his  arms,  and  stood  erect,  as  if  he  had 
served  in  the  marines.  The  doctor  uttered  the  other  command, 
''  Stand  at  ease  !" 

"  Doctor,"  said  Ralph,  ••  I  thouglit  it  were  the  lieutenant ;  but  it  be 
only  you.     Did  you  hear  what  that  Spaniard  said  ?" 

In  the  meantime  Feraguez  stood  back  in  terror. 

The  doctor  said,  slowly  and  carefully,  '•  The  gentleman  told  the  truth. 
Captain  Falkner  is — ahem  I"  He  then  faced  to  the  Spaniard,  and 
said,  '■■  do  you  know,  SefLor,  he  can  call  a  wind  when  he  pleases,  and 
Veil  his  ship  to  sail  as  fast  as  he  wills." 


10  TOM  TBTJCK  J    OB, 

Feraguez  looked  amazed,  and  said,  "  Why  c  i  earth  dooB  he  ooaM 
hither  with  his  Wizard?" 

"  Ah  !"  said  the  doctor,  "  that  is  exactly  what  you  wish  to  know. 
Not  even  his  crew  do." 

"  None  of  them?"  asked  Feraguez. 

"  No :  not  one." 

Feraguez,  who  be  it  understood  spoke  an  English  not  exactly  clas- 
sical, but  very  like  that  of  a  Gibraltar  water-carrier,  said,  '•  The  gov- 
ernor would  give  a  hundred  golden  .crowns  to  any  one  who  could  tell 
him  about  that  ship.     Perhaps  you  can." 

This  was  said  with  the  peculiarly  insinuating  air  Spaniards  and  the 
other  southern  races  use,  when  they  wish  to  corrupt. 

The  doctor,  who  was  a  sturdy  John  Bull,  fully  impressed  with  the 
idea  that  any  one  who  did  not  speak  English  must  be  a  Frenchman, 
seemed  to  hesitate,  but  at  last  dropped  the  words,  as  if  involuntarily: 

"  A  hundred  crowns !     I  might  get  them." 

The  Spaniard  drank  in  every  syllable.  At  last  he  said  :  "  Good 
Sefior,  you  will  tell  me,  and  the  hundred  golden  crowns  shall  be 
yours."  With  all  the  majesty  of  an  Hidalgo,  he  wrapt  his  cloak 
around  him  and  stalked  away,  leaving  the  two  officers  and  Ralph  Rad- 
dle comparatively  alone. 

When  Feraguez  was  gone,  there  was  a  brief  pause  in  the  conversar 
tion,  which  was  finally  broken  by  Ralph,  who  again  approached  the 
table  from  which  he  had  temporarily  withdrawn,  with  the  habitual 
tug  at  his  trowsers,  everywhere  recognized  as  the  distinguishing  char- 
acteristic of  a  sailor.     He  said  : 

"  Lord,  Master  Doctor,  what  on  airth  made  you  stuflF  up  that  Spaniard 
with  stories  so  ?" 

"Ralph,"  said  the  doctor,  '-I  did  not  tell  him  one.  I  said  the  cap- 
tain could  order  a  wind  when  he  pleased ;  so  he  can.  I  did  not  say, 
however,  that  the  wind  would  come.  I  said  he  could  order  his  ship  to 
Bail  as  fast  as  he  pleased.  So  he  can ;  but,  for  all  that,  you  know,  as 
w?ll  as  I  and  the  captain  do,  how  many  knots  an  hour  the  vessel  can 
make. 

Weevil  became  enthusiastic,  buttoned  up  the  breast  of  his  jacket,  and 
uttered  the  very  nautical  exclamation  :  "  Give  us  your  hand,  old  plank ; 
for  a  better  one  never  was  built  in  a  vessel ;"  and  he  took  the  captain's 
hand.  "  You  have  done  what  many  admiralty-lifted  lubbers  never  would 
have  dared,  even  if  they  had  eaten  up  their  cocked  hats  and  epaulets. 
You  will,  however,  own  that  your  vessel  is  in  devilish  strange  sound 


THE   WIZARD    CKEW.  11 

Hftartan  took  "his  hand,  and  said,  "  I  can't  say.  Obey  orders  is  the 
maxim,  and  the  captain  is  as  tight  as  a  marine  drum.  One  more 
drink." 

"  Belay,  belay  !"  saiid  Weevil ;  "  I  have  orders  to  execute,  and  the  man 
we  get  them  from  gives  orders.  You  are  a  good  sailor,  and  the  very 
sight  of  you  brings  up  the  very  bilge-water  of  memory.  Good-bye^ 
good-bye !  some  day  you  will  know  more."  The  worthy  mate  looked 
intently  into  Hearton's  face,  as  he  spoke  the  last  words,  and  hurried 
out,  followed  by  all  the  sailors  who  had  hitherto  sat  in  the  room,  at  a 
most  respectful  distance  from  their  superiors. 

At  the  very  door  of  the  room  he  met  a  strange-looking  customer,  half 
sailor,  half-landsman,  rejoicing  in  the  euphonious  name  of  Tim  Treacle, 
purser's  clerk  of  the  "  Wizard  of  the  Wave ;"  and  was  saluted  by  tho 
latter  thus : 

"  Stranger  unknown,  how  are  you  ?  Take  a  drop  of  nothing?  Yoa 
belong  to  the  schooner  over  the  point,  don't  you  ?" 

Weevil  gathered  up  all  his  dignity,  and  said ;  "  My  master,  I  belong: 
to  the  vessel  over  there,  but  how  on  earth  do  you  know  she  is  a  schooner?-' 
Everybody  knows  you  can  tell  the  difference  between  a  pig-tail  and  ? 
dutch-cheese ;  but  where,  my  little  laud-crab,  did  you  find  out  what  a, 
schooner  was?"  The  crowd  laughed,  for  a  purser's  clerk  is  the  butt  of' 
every  ship ;  and  the  more  angry  Tim  Treacle  became,  the  louder  was 
their  mirth. 

Ralph  Raddle,  of  all  the  crowd  in  the  room,  stood  alone,  and  laughed 
louder  and  longer  than  ever,  so  much  that  he  finally  attracted  the  atten- 
tion of  Treacle,  who  approached  him  in  a  threatening  attitude.    He  said  : 

"  Stop  your  laughing ;  I  won't  stand  it !  Sure  as  the  rule  of  three  is 
true,  I'll  fight.  Call  me  a  land-crab !"  Ralph  laughed,  and  none  can- 
tell  what  the  desperate  clerk  might  have  done,  so  warlike  had  he  become^ 
if  Hearton  had  not  stepped  between  them,  and  said : 

"  Come,  lads,  no  quarrels,  for  we  have  far  more  important  things  to-- 
think  of  The  natives  here,  I  mean  these  Spaniards,  think  our  craft 
the  devil's  own,  and  only  a  coop  for  a  crew  of  fiends.  They  think  we  all- 
come  from  the  waters  on  the  other  side  of  Holmes'  hole.  Now  this 
won't  do ;  for  as  long  as  they  think  so,  the  devil  a  boat  will  come  to  us 
devils,  with  fresh  Tommy,  or  anything  else  that  is  fresh." 

"  Ah  !"  said  Tim,  "  I  do  suffer  !     I  lived*so  luxuriously  at  home  !" 

Raddle  looked  at  him,  and  said,  drily,  "  Yes,  your  mother  keeps  a^ 
chandler's  shop  at  Gosport." 

"  Well.  Mr.  Jolly — for  let  me  tell  you,  Mr.  Raddle,  you  be  nothing.> 
but  a  marine — was  not  that  a  luxury?     All  I  wanted,  was  iu  the  shrj^ 


72  TOM  truck;  ok, 

Didn't  I  get  the  nice  corners  of  the  loaves  the  baker  left  in  the  morn 
ing?  and  didn't  I  dip  them  in  the  treacle?  What  have  I  got  now ? 
bad  biscuits,  bread  and  meat  together,  where  bugs  have  been  breeding 
for  seven  years,  and  meat  that  nothing  but  a  boarding-axe  can  cut.  I 
feel  the  difference,  with  tears  in  my  eyes  !  I  do — I  do !" 

The  purser's  clerk  walked  to  and  fro  in  the  most  agitated  manner, 
and  at  last  approached  Doctor  Cutbody,  who  said,  "  Tim,  keep  your 
tears  to  strengthen  your  grog.  These  Jack  Spaniards  are  all  afraid  of 
us,  for  I  saved  the  life  of  one  poor  fellow  by  a  cataplasm  on  his  stomach, 
and  the  graceless  hound  said  I  put  my  hand  on  his  stomach,  and  it 
burned  him  like  a  hot  iron.  By  the  soul  of  Galen,  I  put  a  regular 
blister  of  Spanish  flies  on  his  bread-basket,  and  I  took  good  caro  they 
should  burn  the  graceless  scoundrel !" 

"  Ah  !"  said  all ;  and  Treacle  insinuated,  '•  But,  doctor,  your  remedies 
iire  twice  as  strong  as  those  we  serve." 

■"  Of  course  they  are.     We  don't  sell  them." 

"'But,  doctor,"  said  Tim  Treacle,  "  the  worst  of  the  matter  is,  they 
.really  ^mid  me." 

"5'hey  do,  do  they?     That  is  very  funny." 

'•Ha  !  ha  \  ha  !"  laughed  all — and  the  conversation  might  have  con- 
itinued  much  longer,  but  that  a  loud,  cheery  laugh  was  heard  outside, 
■  speaking  thus: 

"  Heave  ho  !  my  hearties,  what  cheer?  Donna  Capella,  ho  !  my  she 
admiral  Donna  Gapella  !" — and  in  rushed  Tom  Truck,  coxswain  of  the 
Wizard  of  the  Wave,  in  the  tight-hipped  trousers  and  loose  jacket  of 
the  sailors  of  the  day.  Tom  sung  the  first  stave  of  an  old  sea-song, 
"  All  among  the  Hottentots,  capering  ashore,"  etc.  "  Yoho,  my  hearties  1 
so  you  have  all  come  to  anchor  in  this  roadstead?  and  it  is  the  best  in 
the  island.  But  where  is  the  old  lady?  Donna  Capella, Donna  Capella, 
.  ahoy !" 

And  Donna  Capella  entered. 

But  who   was  she?      A   nice,  tight,  snug-built  Spanish   woman,  of 

,  thirty-five  or  forty,  very  little  the  worse  for  wear,  with  a  profusion  of 

bracelets,  jewelry  and  chains.     She  had  just  enough  of  the  black  blood 

in  her  veins  to  give  that  wavy  curve  to  her  hair  which  is  so  great  an 

:  attraction  in  the  Creole  quadroons. 

Probably  no  race  on  earth* dress  so  Qstravagantly  as  the  natives  of 
the  West  Indies;  and  the  white  satin  skirt,  tight  fitting-black  velvet 
bodice,  covered  with  silver  lace,  and  the  sijk  stocking  and  well-fitting 
-shoe,  disclose  no  small  vestige  of  beauty. 

"  Aha,  Sefiored  Ingleses  !     Sefior  Truck,  I  kiss  your  hands." 


THE    WIZAKI.    CKEW.  13 

«  Kiss  my  ian  Js,  Donna !  not  Tom  Truck's  sorry  hands,  but  kisfl 
nis  lips,  though  they  are  stained  with  tobacco." 

As  Truck  spoke,  he  and  all  the  company  bowed  with  the  most  ludi- 
crous gravity. 

"  Ah,  Seilor  Truck,  why  do  you  make  so  much  noise  and  bellow  like 
a  bull  so  much  ?" 

Truck  said,  '•  Donna,  the  mosquitoes  bother  me  so,  I  could  not  but 
yell.  But,  Donna,  what  can  you  tell  me  about  all  the  traps  of  the 
leftenant.     Give  me  your  advice  now,  my  bumljoat  commodore." 

Donna  Capella  arose  with  an  air  of  offended  dignity,  and  said,"  1 
know  nothing  about  bumboats  or  commodores  ;  are  you  sure  your  cap- 
tain cannot  hear  ?" 

«  To  be  sure." 

"  Well,  they  say  he  is  the  devil,"  said  Donna  Capella.  "While  yo'i 
were  all  amid  the  storm  of  yesterday,  when  the  wind  was  highest  and 
the  water  roughest,  in  came  your  captain,  epaulets  and  all.  He  said, 
'  Donna,  the  weather  is  bad.  I  want  some  wine.'  I  went  for  it,  and  I 
saw,  when  I  came  back,  your  captain  all  dressed  in  black — black  velvet 
He  said  to  me,  '  Donna,  some  brandy  !' " 

"  What !  our  captain  ?" 

"  Yes.  your  captain  !" 

"  Dressed  m  black  ?" 

«  Yes  !" 

«'  Well  ?" 

"  I  was  afraid,  and  ran  back  to  where  I  left  him ;  and  there  he  stood, 
in  full  uniform,  waiting  for  his  wine.  I  tell  you,  your  captain  is  the 
devil !" 

The  company  present  had  heard  this,  but  being  all  old  sailors,  they 
laughed  at  it,  except  Tim  Treacle,  who  become  completely  overpowered, 
and  fell  at  once  into  Hearton's  arms.     As  he  did  so  he  said  : 

"  Ah  !  ah  !  support  me — I  shall  faint !" 

The  crowd  hurried  around  and  fanned  him,  being  more  prodigal  of 
attention  than  thej  "should  probably  have  been  with  many  a  better 
man. 

The  doctor  stepped  up  and  said,  "  Wait  a  moment,  until  I  breathe  a 
vein  ;"  and  he  whipped  out  the  case  of  instruments,  which  military  and 
naval  surgeons  keep  with  them  carefully  as  other  men  do  their  pocket 
books. 

"  Donna,  did  you  see  the  captain's  tail  ?" 

"  See  the  captain's  tail !  no,  I  never  look  at  captains'  ♦ails." 

'»  I  am  glad,  for  then  I  never  would  have  recove'^d.' 


14  re  M  TKUCK  ;  or, 

The  master  Hearton  walked  up  and  down  the  room  silently,  Imt 
evidently  in  deep  thought ;  and  shadows  seemed  to  come  and  go  inys 
Seriously  over  his  brow.      At  last,  Tom  Truck  said  : 

"  Stop  your  log,  and  just  look  at  the  master  walking  up  and  down 
there,  like  a  ship  in  the  trade-winds  !  Bless  your  soul  !  though  in 
Donna  Capella's  house,  his  thoughts  are  in  blue  water.  Ha !  you  do 
not  think  the  skipper  is  the  devil,  do  you?  Ho!  Mr.  Hearton,  what 
do  you  think  ?" 

Hearton  said,  moodily,  '■  I  cannot  say,  lad,  for  I  am  entirely  out  of  my 
latitude,  and  I  tell  you  what:  last  night  I  saw  you  put  off  with  the 
Japtain  in  his  gig,  and  had  not  gone  ten  steps  towards  Donna  Capella's, 
when,  bless  your  soul,  I  saw  him  plain  as  I  see  you !" 

Tim  Treacle  had  heard  the  conversation,  and  said,  "  Master,  did  yon 
see  the  captain's  tail  ?" 

"  See  his  tail !  why  ?" 

"  Because,  then  it  is  certain  that  he  is  the  devil." 

"Tim  Treacle,  do  you  think  his  majesty  ever  gave  the  devil  com- 
mand of  such  a  ship  as  that  ?" 

"  Lord  Bless  you,  sir,  how  should  I  know  ?"' 

"  The  doctor  seemed  not  a  little  amazed,  and  burst  out  with  the 
exclamation,  "  We  must  all  be  physicked.  Bless  my  soul,  here  he 
comes  !" 

The  words  were  scarcely  uttered,  when  the  person  of  whom  they  spoke, 
Captain  Falkner,  master  of  the  Wizard  of  the  Wave,  walked  through  the 
arched  door-way  and  sat  down.  None  had  seen  him  enter,  and  they  were 
not  a  little  surprised  when  he  said  : 

'•  Donna  Capella,  when  you  have  finished  waiting  on  those  gentlemen, 
perhaps  you  will  attend  to  their  captain." 

Up  started  the  Donna,  with  a  scream,  and  not  a  person  was  present 
who  did  not  feel  as  if  something  supernatural  had  taken  place  j  and 
they  hurried  to  different  parts  of  the  room,  each  expressing  the  deepest 
amazement  and  surprise. 

'•  Holy  trinity  !"  said  Donna  Capella. 

"  Your  honor  here  !"  said  truck.     Bless  my  eyes  !" 

"  Lord  I   I  smell  brimstone  !"  said  Tim  Treacle. 

Falkner  appeared  to  hear  none  of  these  exclamations.  Perhaps  ne 
did  not ;  but  he  walked  across  the  room — all  avoiding  him,  either  from 
respect  to  discipline,  or  because  they  thought  the  devil  was  among 
them. 

When  alone,  he  began  to  talk,  as  men  will  do,  who  have  great  objeoti 
to  guard. 


TIJK   WIZAKD    CKKW.  t^ 

"  Manly's  story,"  said  he,  -'is  true;  for  even  those  jrho  have  served 
mth  me  for  years,  seem  affected  by  it,  It  is  good,  though,  for  it  may — 
»y,  it  shall  serve  my  purpose."  He  turned  around  to  the  hostess,  and 
Bald: 

"  Come,  my  charming  Douiia,  attend  to  the  provisioning  department, 
and  serve  out  a  stiff  allowance  to  all  my  dainty  Wizard's  men,  and  give 
the  captain,  do  you  hear,  a  double  allowance  of  cold  water.  A  sailor's 
legs  were  not  made  for  climbing  over  high  hills,  beautiful  soever  as  the 
lime  trees  and  orange  blossoms  may  be." 

Donna  Capella  looked  at  him  in  amazement,  and  said,  "  In  a  moment, 
captain.     Oh,  that  such  a  handsome  man  should  be  captain  of  devils !" 

She  left  at  once,  to  attend  to  his  orders;  and  we  may  here  say,  that, 
though  we  have  given  what  Donna  Capella  said,  in  tolerably  good 
English,  she  spoke  the  miserable  lingua-franco  dialect,  which  makes  the 
patois  of  the  American  Mediterranean  even  worse  than  that  of  Europe. 

Falkuer  turned  to  his  master  and  said,  "  Hearton,  let  the  eye  of  your 
experience  see  that  the  Wizard  be  taught  and  trim,  alow  and  aloft,  as  a 
lady's  boudoir.  Truck,  ray  man,  do  not  be  standing  there,  like  a  dol- 
phin at  confession,  but  see  the  boat's  crew  rigged  in  their  best.  You, 
Treacle " 

"  Your  honor  !  your  honor  !  Lord  !"  said  he,  aside,  '•  don't  I  smell 
brimstone  ?'' 

"Treacle,  tell  Sergeant  Cartridge  to  have  his  men  in  parade  order. 
I  am  going  to  give  a  ball  on  board." 

Ralph  Hearton  saluted,  and  said  what  a  sailor  says  lo  every  order* 

"  Ay,  ay,  3^our  honor." 

Tim  was  in  amazement,  and  said  : 

"  A  ball  on  board  !" 

"Yes,  Master  Purser's-clmk,  I  intend  to  give  a  ball  on  board,  if  yon 
have  no  objection." 

"None  in  the  least,  your  honor;  but  you  will  of  course  invite  the 
ladies?" 

Falkner  laughed,  and  said,  '  Of  course,  I  will;  for  what  were  a  ball 
without  their  shining  faces?  We,  poor  sons  of  the  sea,  know  too  well 
what  it  is  to  be  without  the  heaven  of  their  society,  to  omit  a  single 
oppor'-^nity  of  enjoying  it.  The  glories  and  wonders  of  old  ocean,  the 
sweet  varieties  of  flower-covered  lands,  all  pass  as  nothing  to  the 
lonely  mariner ;  but  were  the  partner  of  his  fate,  the  girl  he  loves, 
compa-riion  of  his  perils,  the  boundles  waste  around  him  would  be 
peopl*'d  with  sweet  hopes.  The  sun-burnt  lands  of  all  the  world  would 
be  dear  to  him  as  his  loved  borne,  danger  would  be  a  dream,  toil  a 


IG  TOM  TKUCK  ;    OR, 

pleasure,  and  the  hard-earned  victory  doubly  proud  and  glorious ;  toi 
ner  smile  would  thank  him  and  her  eye  speak  the  share  she  borj  in 
the  bright  fame  he  had  achieved.  Here,  though,  lads,  is  your  grog. 
To  women — ugly,  old,  young  or  beautiful — still  the}'  are  the  soothers 
of  our  cares.     Woman  !" 

We  need  not  say  that  the  toast  was  drank  enthusiastically. 

The  landlady's  niece  Dianez  entered,  and  all  looked  at  her  except 
Tom  Truck,  who  could  have  no  idea  that  a  woman  was  made  for  any- 
thing but  a  landlad}'.  The  brilliant  black  eye,  the  full  rounded  form, 
the  pretty  foot,  and  graceful  figure  of  Dianez,  were  all  displayed  by  her 
amber  skirt  and  black  velvet  bodice,  which  is  almost  as  universal  in 
Cuba  as  the  fajy,  or  sash  in  Andalusia  of  old  Spain.  The  two  coun- 
tries in  fact  are  not  unlike — men  and  women  having  the  same  irapetu* 
osity  of  soul  and  thought,  the  same  dark  eyes,  and  the  same  fusion  of 
languor  and  excitement,  which  makes  them  either  the  most  yielding  or 
terrible  in  the  world. 

'•  Your  honor,"  said  Truck.  I — that  is,  sir,  it  is  miraculous,  but  Mr. 
Belford,  the  first  lieutenant,  your  honor,  knows — it  is  miraculous — last 
night,  when  we  were  alongside,  overhaule<l  this  idea  of  a  ball.  Says  I, 
your  honor,  says  I,  "  That  is  the  way  to  hook  all  the  female  fish  of  the 
island,  old  and  }oung ;  and,  blast  my  eyes,  if  we  don't  show  them  that 
we  men  of  the  Wizard  are  not  witches  nor  devils  !  Do  3'ou  know,  your 
honor,  I  have  satinfied  a  good  many  of  the  female  creters,  that  it  was 
not  the  case  with  old  Tom,  at  least  sometime  ago  ?" 

"  No  doubt  uf  it,  Truck  ;  but  just  tell  Mr.  Belford,  that  I  have  taken 
the  wind  out  of  iiis  sails.  Tell  him,  too,  in  his  cruise  up  yondtr,  to  keep 
a  sharp  look  on  the  bearing  of  every  height.  He  will  know  what  T 
mean.      Here,  my  las.s,  is  payment ;  now  give  me  the  change." 

He  took  fair  Dianez  around  the  waist,  kissed  her  pouting  lip,  and 
went  out,  laughing  merrily.     Dianez  had  preceded  him. 

The  master  sat  silently  for  a  moment,  and  then,  with  a  thoughtfiJ 
voice,  said  : 

'•  He  is  a  brave  fellow.     The  king  has  no  better  officer." 

"  You  may  say  so.  Master  Hearton  ;  for  a  better  sailor  never  trod  A 
deck.  As  to  his  being  old  nick,  why  the  devil  himself  would  not  like 
to  have  him  board  his  quarters." 

"  I  am  not  so  sure,"  said  Treacle,  "  that  there  was  not  something 
infernal  in  his  kissing  Dianez.  It  really  made  me  jealous.  I  love  that 
girl." 

Truck  looked  at  him  with  amazement.  '•  Stop  your  gal  blc,  young 
nibble -cheese,  for  though  I  don't  say  much,  I  kind  0'  like  that  yiung  on» 


THU   WIZARD   CEEW.  17 

«nd  1  woii't  have  your  purser's  mug  between  a  sailor  like  mjself  rod 
her.  All !  there  is  his  honor,  just  getting  into  his  boat.  There  she 
goes,  beliiiid  the  rocks." 

All  took  off  their  hats,  paying  from  discipline,  even  at  a  distance,  all 
the  respect  due  the  royal  commission. 

They  had  scarcely  done  so,  when  a  stranger  entered  the  room  and 
threw  off  his  cloak.  He  wore  the  dress  of  the  day  in  that  county — a 
slouched  hat  with  a  plume,  tight  black  pantaloons,  a  gray  vest,  and  the 
heavy  Spanish  boots,  all  wore  in  his  land.  The  whole  dress  was  trimmed 
with  gray,  and.  like  his  plume,  was  black  as  the  raven's  wing.  All  rose 
at  once,  perfectly  paralyzed  :  not  at  his  entrance,  but  at  the  striking 
likeness  and  almost  identity 'of  the  stranger  with  the  captain,  the  boat 
of  whom  they  had  just  before  seen  disappear.  Dress  alone  made  the 
difference,  and  but  for  it,  none  could  have  distinguished  the  stranger 
from  the  captain. 

"  Why,  Tim  !"  said  Truck. 

"  Tom  !"  said  Tim. 

Hearton  caught  the  doctor's  hand,  and,  as  he  clenched  it,  said : 

«  Caleb  Cutbody  !'» 

"  Hearton  !"  said  the  doctor. 

All  looked  with  amazement  at  the  unknown,  who  sat  silent  and  uq 
observing. 

Truck  first  recovered  himself,  and  said :  "  Well,  I  never  saw  the 
skipper  in  black  before." 

In  a  sad  tone,  Hearton  said,  "  It  is  not  the  skipper,  but  the  devil." 

Dianez  entered  the  room,  and  as  she  saw  the  stranger,  started  back 
and  exclaimed,  in  her  own  tongue,  "  Es  el  diablo  !" 

The  stranger  noticed  none  of  this  bye-play,  but  turning  around  to 
Dianez,  said  : 

"  Bring  me  some  of  jomt  best  wine,  Nina,  and  fresh  water  from  the 
spring." 

Dianez  was  about  to  leave,  but  before  she  reached  the  door,  he  called 
her  back,  and  said,  carelessly  : 

"  Hark,  girl !  have  there  been  any  others  here  but  the  Black  Wiz- 
ard's crew  ?" 

"  Mr.  Weevil  was  here  a  moment  since,  sir." 

"  Ah  !  if  he  be  gone,  bring  me  the  wine  at  once." 

The  unknown  relapsed  into  silence,  and  after  a  moment  or  twOj 
Truck  recovered  his  presence  of  mind,  and  said  : 

"That  is  the  captain's  voice,  I'll  swear,  and  the  Black  "Wizard  u 
what  we  call  the  *  Barky.' 


1'^  TOM  truck;  0.^ 

"  T*h.»»  *d  't\\  T  EM  ;'a,r,"  said  Heartou  ;  "  see  the  gold  chain  ho  alwayi 
wears !" 

"  I  am  noi  \\ii>.\l  to  be  fearsome,"  said  Truck  ;  but,  by  the  powers,  1 
am  all  in  a  ccH  svjiui.  I  wish  one  of  the  lieutenants  would  come  to 
overhaul  that  ff  Uiw's  papers. 

Treacle  was  torriCed  to  death,  and  could  but  exclaim,  while  each 
particular  hair  stovod  erect :  "  If  I  was  only  in  Wapping,  wouldn't  I 
desert !" — and  he  began  at  once  to  move  towards  the  door,  when  the  ^| 

doctor  said,  following  him  :  i'\ 

"I'll  stop  him." 

"  Avast,  there,  doctor !  we  want  you  ;"  and  he  caught  the  medico  by 
the  jacket.  "  Now,"  oi^id  he,  "  that  we  are  boarded  by  the  devil,  we 
cannot  spare  the  doctor  from  the  cockpit." 

"Of  course  not,  Trujk,"  said  the  master;  "hold  on  to  him.  (He 
arose  and  took  the  doctor's  hand.)  Hold  on,  old  fellow.  If  the  devil 
is  not  very  hungry,  the  purser's  clerk  will  make  a  vpry  decent  lunch 
for  him." 

Caleb  Cutbody  faced  around,  and,  in  the  most  professional  manned 
conceivable,  said,  "  I  prescribe  an  immediate  chanre  of  air  for  all 
hands." 

"  Well,  well,  it  is  either  the  captain — or — or  the  devil,"  said  th« 
group,  each  uttering  in  succession  one  of  the  members  of  .this  sentence 
And  they  cautiously  left  the  room. 

The  stranger,  who  had  caused  all  this  comment,  sat  for  some  time 
quietly  sipping  his  wine,  and  then  arose  and  paced  the  room  anxiously, 
and  muttered  to  himself:  "  Fool  !  fool  !  I  bade  him  wait  for  me.  No 
messenger  either  from  the  stupid  governor !  They  leave  me  alone  to 
play  out  this  desperate  game,  and  I  will  not  shrink  from  it.  This 
English  captain,  they  say,  is  shrewd,  and  commands  as  fine  a  bark  as 
ever  floated,  yet  I  do  not  fear  him.  I,  who  have  outwitted  all  men  in 
all  lands,  do  not  fear  this  rude  son  of  ocean,  clever  and  brave  though 
he  be.  I  have  a  rich  prize  before  me,  unbounded  wealth,  peerless 
beauty,  and   repose  from   a  life  of  storm.     There   lies  my  craft,' that 

naught  that  sails  has  ever  beaten,  and one  more  step  in  blood,  and 

then  a  life  of  peace .     I  will  not  stop,  and  nothing  shall  make  me 

doubt  success  " 

The  dark  man  continued  to  walk  to  and  fro  in  agitation,  until 
another  person  entered.     He  turned  abruptly  to  him,  and  said: 

'•  Sluggard,  you  made  your  port  just  in  time  to  save  your  tide,  but 
Bnly  in  time." 

Diaaez  in   the  interim   brought  in   more  wine,  which  she  placed 


THE   WIZAED   CEEW.  19 

before  tbem  and  then  retired  to  the  door,  behind  which,  unseen  by  th« 
two,  she  stood  using  the  woman's  privilege  of  listening. 

The  i.ew  comer,  in  the  full,  green  -miform  of  a  Spanish  officer,  and 
the  name  of  whom  was  Feraguez,  the  lieutenant  of  the  governor  of 
Santiago,  said,  respectfully : 

"  Scilor,  I  have  been  here  more  than  an  hour,  but  the  crew  of  that 
English  ship  being  present,  I  did  not  show  mjself." 

The  stranger  said,  "  True  ;  the  governor  is  invited  to  their  ball.  He 
must  go,  as  all  must  who  are  to  be  companions  of  that  journey  we 
know  of  Hear  me  !  The  English  are  here  either  for  good  or  bad, 
but  be  that  as  it  may,  the  festivities  of  the  evening  will  throw  them  off 
their  guard.  When  the  moon  rises,  after  midnight,  their  vessel  will 
not  be  able  to  pass  the  bar,  and  I  will  have  thus  seven  hours  the  start. 
My  ship  is  all  unmoored,  and  before  they  can  well  get  to  sea,  will  be 
beyond  their  reach." 

"  And  the  treasure  ?" 

"  Will  be  placed  on  board  while  the  fools  are  dancing.  Weevil  will 
attend  to  that.  Tell  Don  Jose  he  must  join  in  their  revels,  and  trust 
all  to  me  ;  for  though  he  see  me  not,  I  will  be  near.  I  too  may  dance, 
but  it  will  be  as  the  flame  dances  over  the  magazine,  until  some  crevice 
is  found,  to  enter  and  sweep  all  to  ruin." 

"  I  will  deliver  your  message.     Adios,  excetenza  !" 

"  My  G — d,  I  would  as  soon  sail  with  the  devil  as  with  him  !  I  do 
not  think  he  is  a  very  good  man." 

Poor  Feraguez,  though  not  far  wrong,  was  not  right ;  for  the  person 
^f  whom  he  spoke,  was  one  of  those  fearful  men  sent  on  earth  seem- 
ingly as  curses.  When  he  was  gone,  the  stranger  arose  again,  and 
pacing  the  room  as  he  had  previously  done,  resumed  the  tenor  of  his 
thoughts,  which  seemed  to  burst  from  his  lips  in  words  like  the  fol- 
lowing : 

''  Now  for  my  mountain  beauty  !  I  will  win  the  prize  of  her  match- 
less loveliness,  and  she  shall  share  my  trip,  though  all  the  British  navy 
stood  before  me.  Ho,  for  the  bower  of  beauty  I  The  serpent's  tongue 
in  Eden  was  not  so  sweet  as  mine  shall  be.  She  may  have  friends 
who  love  her  !  Pshaw,  what  of  that  I  I  love  her,  and  she  shall  be 
mine,  though  I  trample  on  a  thousand  hearts  to  make  my  victory  sura 
Now  for  the  mountain  and  my  prize !" 

The  stranger  put  on  his  cloak  and  hat,  and  stalked  rapidly  from  the 
room. 

Dianez  entered  when  he  had  left,  and  said,  to  herself,  as  she  took 
away  the  glasses : 


20  TOM   TKUUK  ;    OB, 

"  What  can  he  mean  ?  no  good,  I'm  sure.     I'll  think  of  it." 
And  she  did  think  of  it  to  some  purpose,  as  will  be  seen ;  lor  women 
are  great  hands  at  unraveling  mysteries. 


CHAPTER    II 

THE    MEETING. 


There  is  no  more  beautiful  country  on  earth  than  Cuba.  Its  rich 
plantations,  its  glorious  cafetals  and  sugar  haciendas  have  often  been 
described,  and  many  a  wild  fancy  has  luxuriated  in  the  scenes  of  deli- 
cious languor,  with  which  all  is  so  redolent.  The  beautiful  isles  of  the 
Egean,  doubtless,  have  their  beauty  enhanced  by  the  fact  that  poets 
in  all  ages,  from  Homer  to  Byron,  have  sung  them ;  and  for  a  similar 
reason,  beautiful  as  they  are,  the  great  and  glorious  Antilles  are  but 
half  appreciated.  They  are  not,  however,  without  their  romance  ;  for 
there  Columbus  first  comprehended  the  glory  and  greatness  of  his  own 
acts;  there  De  Soto,  Ojeda  and  Ulloa  rose  to  fame  and  distinction; 
and  there  lingers  the  lone  vestige  of  European  despotism  in  America 
Some  day  it  must  be  the  subject  for  the  poet  and  novelist,  though  as 
yet  it  has  attracted  no  pen  but  that  of  the  American  Irving,  of  whom 
may  be  said,  as  was  of  his  great  prototype  Goldsmith,  "  he  touched 
nothing  that  he  did  not  adorn." 

One  great  feature  of  Cuba  has,  however,  been  rarely  described — its 
mountains.  Like  those  of  Sicily,  they  rise  high  above  the  plains  below, 
but  unlike  them,  have  many  beautiful  table-lands,  which,  since  the  colo- 
nization of  the  island,  afford  a  retreat  for  those  of  the  population  who, 
in  the  unhealthy  season,  were  from  their  position  unabale  to  fly  from 
the  only  curse  of  the  country — the  vomito  of  September.  These  moun- 
tains rise  precipitately,  the  different  character  of  foliage  and  of  growth 
betokening  a  different  climate  and  temperature.  First  in  the  plain  are 
the  guiava,  the  palma-real,  with  the  trunk  like  an  Egyptian  column, 
the  zapote,  the  lime,  and  the  orange.  Higher  up,  the  iron-wood  and  the 
bastard  mahogany,  and  on  the  brows  the  pine  and  the  Spanish  oak — 
ftU  perpetually  green,  never  changing,  and  almost  realizing  those  famous 
Armidan  islands,  where  "summer  reigned  all  the  year,  and  wint?r  came 
not." 

The  very  earth,  too,  is  various  as  the  trees ;  it  produces.  On  the 
lowlands  are  the  coral  rocks,  the  vast  concrete  madrepore  i  on  the  decli- 


mE   WIZARD   CKEW.  21 

^ty  cupriferous  quartz,  shale,  etc. ;  and  high  up,  towards  heaven,  great 
granite  peaks,  which  prove  the  islands  of  the  Mexican  Gulf  to  be  por- 
tions of  the  American  continent,  abraded  perhaps  when  the  great  lakes, 
which  rolled  where  now  the  North  American  praries  are,  burst  their 
barriers  and  swept  down  the  Mississippi  to  the  sea. 

In  one  of  the  gorges  of  the  mountains  which  rise  westward  of  San- 
tiago, and  from  the  highest  point  of  which  might  be  seen  the  town  with 
the  two  vessels  in  view,  (the  one  lay  in  the  harbor,  while  the  other  was 
anchored  beyond  the  low  point  of  land  which  in  fact  constituted  the 
harbor.)  not  long  after  the  strange  scene  we  have  spoken  of,  stood  foux- 
persons,  three  of  whom  were  negroes,  in  the  common  cotton  dress-  of" 
of  their  class.  The  fourth  was  Isabenda  del  Sandover,  a  Gastiliau. 
lady,  and  daughter  of  the  governor  of  Santiago.  We  are  but  poor 
hands  at  a  description  of  female  dress,  and  can  say  no-  more  of  the 
lady  than  that  she  wore  the  peculiarly  rich  dress  of  her  country,  and  the- 
veil  which  Spauisb  women  ever  substitute  for  the  hideous  bonuet  with, 
which  those  of  other  lands  for  centuries  have  disfigured  themselves.  Her; 
name  was  Isabenda,  and  she  spoke  thus  to  the  eldest  of  the  three  negroes,, 
the  dress  of  whom  showed  that  he  was  of  a  superior  gang,  and  a  mem-, 
ber  of  what  is  called,  in  that  country,  the  gente  de  casa,  and  in  portionsj 
of  our  own,  rejoices  in  the  less  euphonious  synonym  of  "  house-gang." 

Her  voice  was  clear  and  musical,  and  she  said  to  the  slave : 

"Domingo  !  domingo  !  it  cannot  be  that  these  English  are  as  bad  as< 
you  say  they  are.  There  lies  their  vessel,  like  a  stately  bird  ;  and  those 
I  saw  before  my  father  sent  me  to  this  wilderness,  were  very  good- 
looking,  very  handsome." 

"  Yes,  donna.  The  devil  in  their  country  is  very  good-looking.  He 
wears  a  wig  to  hide  his  horns,  and  covers  up  his  tail  with  a  long  skirt.* 

"  Bah  !  Domingo,"  said  Isabenda,   "  that  is  all  nonsense  !" 

"  It  is  true,  donna,  and  he  carries  a  green  bag,  and  they  call  hiui 
lawyer !" 

"  That  is  foolish,"  rejoined  the  lady;  "and  I  saw  one  far  handsomer 
than  our  countrymen,  who  my  father  said  was  an  officer.  He  said, 
though,  they  were  all  atheists  and  very  bloodthirsty.  Heigho  !  why  did 
my  father  send  me  hither,  where  it  is  so  lonely.  He  promised,  too. 
that  I  should  not  be  alone." 

"  But,  donna,  you  are  not  alone,  for  I  am  here." 

"  But  he  said  I  should  have  a  maid." 

"Well,  I  am  your  maid,  and  a  very  good  one  too.  Did  I  not  nurs* 
you  when  you  were  little  ?  why  not  nurse  you  now  ?" 

"Well,  Domingo,  it  cannot  be  helped,  and  I  must  abide  by  my 


22  TOM   TKCCZ;    OK, 

father's  will.     See,  though,  Dianez  comes  !     He  has  faithfally  kept  hifl 
promise." 

Dianez  came  up  to  the  party  at  that  moment,  and  she  was  kindly 
received  by  Isabenda,  who  bade  her  the  warmest  welcome.  She  ex- 
claimed : 

"  Now  I  shall  enjoy  the  blooming  flowers,  and  watch  with  joy  the 
twinkling  stars.  I  will  be  able  to  listen,  too,  to  the  murmur  of  the 
water-fall.      How,  though,  is  my  father  ?     When  will  I  see  him  V 

"  He  will  come  to  see  you,  secretly,"  said  Diauez.  He  sent  me  up 
from  my  aunt's,  and  bade  me  say  he  would  see  you  as  soon  as  possible 
after  me." 

"  Dear  Dianez,  what  means  this  mystery  ?  Were  we  not  so  happy 
until  that  English  vessel  came?     Now  everybody  seems  afraid." 

I  had  an  English  sweetheart,  '•  said  Dianez;  and  I  am  sure  I  thought 
Jhina  more  of  angel  than  a  devil." 

••"  Bah  !"  said  old  Domingo,  "  that  is  nonsense  ;  three  are  uo  English 
iiugels.     Angels  never  speak  English.     All  devils  do  though." 
"  Domingo,  what  language  do  angels  speak  V 

"  Maudingo,  to  be  sure,  a  pretty  language  is  Mandingo ;"  and  the  old 
■.man  began  a, long,  monotono.us,  negro  chant,  which  might  have  lasted  I 
iknow  nQt  how  long,  had  not  the  fair  Castilian's  father  joined  them. 

He  was  a,tall,fine-lookiag  Spaniard,  preserving  all  the  characteristics 
«f  his  race,  but  with.A  s,ad,  melancholy  brow,  betokening  deep  and  secret 
sorrow.  He  wore  all  the  insignia  of  his  rank,  which  well  became  him, 
and  set  off  his  person  to  the  greate&t  advantage.  He  clasped  his  daugh- 
ter in  his  arms,  kissed  her,  and  half  in  ejaculation,  half  in  conversation, 
said: 

"  My  child  !    my  treasure  !    it  were  indeed  a  pity  to  blight  the 
promises  of  thy  lovely  youth.     Domingo,  take  your  companions  with 
you.    .  Do  you  hear  ?     Watoh  the  point— j-the  signal-point — you  under- 
;  stand — so  that  my  retreat  may  never  be  cut  off.     Be  watchful !" 

'•,  Yes,  master,"  said  Domingo;  "  I  never  sleep  on  my  post,  and  will 
.  watch  for  the  English  devils;"  and  Doqiingo  left  with  his  sable  com- 
t  panions. 

'•  Dianez,"  said  the  governor,  "  remain  within,  for- 1  have  something 
r  to  aay  to  you." 

Diauez  left,  and  at  once  the  governor  turned  to  his  daughter  and 
t  said  ;  "  What  ails  you,  my  child  ?  Why  do  you  tremble  so,  and  look  bo 
,  .pale  ?  are  you  not  with  your  father  ?" 

'•  Ah,  yes  i"  said  Isabenda,  "  with  a  dear,  dear  father.  UTou  toe,  sir, 
.,<*re  3iale  1  ,Wha(.ig.thc  iQ|atte|:?  ^  Teilj  tell  your  child  l«-Your  hot  li^cda. 


THE   WIZAllD   CREW.  23 

^o«r  iCstleas  eye,  the  nervous  motioa  of  your  lip,  all  conspire  to  make 
me  fear  for  you.     Yet  I  know  not  what  to  fear." 

"  Do  not,  then,"  said  Don  Jose ;  "  'tis  best." 

"  Father,"  said  Isabinda,  "  I  fear.  Tell  me,  father,  the  very  worst 
I  will  not  tremble,  then.  What  is  the  matter  1  Tell  me,  tell  me  if 
you  love  me — it  you  love  my  mother.  All  makes  me  dread  something, 
though  I  know  not  what  is  fear^''  , 

"  'Tis  well,  daughter,  you  do  not." 

"  Now,"  said  Isabinda,  "  you  make  me  tremble.  Dear  father,  let  me 
know  the  worst,  and  as  I  said,  I  will  not  tremble  then— let  me  but 
share  your  fate,  whatever  it  be.  Cast  me  not  from  you,  if  you  love  mc. 
We  were  all  happy  before  that  fatal  vessel  came." 

"  How  know  you  that  ?"  said  the  governor.  Who  said  I  feared  that 
vessel  ?     Who  has  dared " 

The,  old  governor  paused,  as  if  to  check  thoughts  that  found  too 
quick  an  utterance.  '  Nay  I  am  wrong.  Her  anxiety  alone  makes  her 
suspect ;  yet  why  deny  ^     That  vessel  does  annoy  me.' 

'■'  Why,"  said  Isabinda,  "  should  you,  dear  father,  so  dread  and  fear 
tho  English?" 

Don  Jose  looked  sadly  at  her,  and  said  :  "  I  have  my  reasons,  girl ;  for 
their  unusual  presence  may  tliwart  the  labored  purpose  of  my  trouble 
life — may  plunge  me  from  a  pinnacle  of  power  into  the  contempt  of 
darkness  and  of  poverty  !  I  hate,  I  loathe  their  sea-girt  isle.  A  wild 
memory  of  my  youth  pictures  a  ruined  home — a  blighted  name — heart- 
broken parents,  and  a  fiend-like  friend,  false  as  the  pit  he  sprang  from. 
Black  were  his  deeds,  black  as  the  heart  within  his  breast,  and  tortur- 
ing as  the  eternal  memory  of  his  wrongs — and  even  now  drive  on  the 
refuge  till  no  refuge  can  be  found  except  in  madness  or  the  grave  ! 

"  Father,"  said  Isabinda,  "  this  is  awful." 

"  True,  girl,  it  is  terrible  ;  but  yet  you  shall  know  all.  The  time  is 
near,  when  I  may  be,  perchance,  stripped  of  power.  You  leave  the 
island  to-night." 

The  pale  girl  looked  around  with  terror,  and  throwing  her  arms 
about  her  father's  neck,  said  :  "  Leave  my  lovely  home — this  glorious 
isle— the  spot  where  I  have  trained  my  flowers,  where  the  feathered 
tenants  of  my  orange-bowers  come  at  my  beck  and  call — leave  my 
home  ?" 

"  Innocence  and  youth,  dear  ahild,  can  make  a  home  wherever  thej 
will.     Yon  vessel  is  my  fate." 

"Why  so,  dear  father?     They  tell  m6  its  officers  are  frank  and 


24  TOM   T3UCK  ;    OK, 

"  You  will  be  able  to  judge  them  better  ;  for  to-night  we  nil!  attend 
the  ball  on  board  their  ship." 

"  Ah  !"  said  Isabinda,  and  her  young  heart  beat  with  joy  ;  "  a  ball ! 
B  ball !     And  may  I  go  ? — a  ball !  a  ball !" 

"  Come,  daughter,  come,"  said  the  old  Spaniard.  "  I  will  attend 
you.  Go  to  the  hermitage  and  prepare  for  the  ball,  which  must,  to  a 
heart  like  yours,  free  from  all  guilt  and  shame,  be  joyous.  Come, 
Dianez,  and  Domingo  will  attend  you." 

And  the  sad  couple  left.  The  one  was  weighed  down  by  memories 
of  the  past,  and  the  other,  despite  herself,  could  not  but  entertain  anti- 
cipations of  the  future.  Thus  is  it  ever ;  for  in  youth,  as  the  great 
Jean  Paul  has  said,  "  we  see  dim  shadows  spread  before  us,  and  in  old 
age  see  nothing  but  darkness  behind  us  " 

Scarcely  had  they  gone,  when  the  clear,  loud  voice  of  Truck  was 
heard,  shouting  as  if  he  manned  the  anchor. 

"  Heave  ho  !  master  Tim  Treacle,  spread  more  canvas  !  Come  czx  I 
come  on  !" 

And  around  the  declivity  of  a  rock  appeared  Tim,  pistol  in  hand, 
with  Truck  behind  him,  armed  with  a  boat-hook.  Truck  shouted 
again : 

"  Shake  out  a  reef  or  two  more,  I  tell  you,  or  his  honor  will  make  a 
target  of  your  stern-parts,  by  way  of  practice.  Do  you  hear,  you 
lubber  !" 

"  Any  one,"  said  the  purser's  clerk,  "  who  heard  you  talk,  would 
think  I  was  a  pointer-dog,  instead  of  an  officer  of  his  majesty's  victual- 
ing department.  Mr.  Bel  ford  is  too  good  a  sportsman  ever  to  take  me 
for  a  partridge  or  iguana.  Do  you  think  he  would  make  game  of 
me?" 

"  Make  game  of  you,  Tim  !  Lord,  everybody  does  !  But  did  not 
you  join  our  convoy  because  you  said  you  were  good  at  beating  up  the 
game  ?" 

"  But,  Tom  Truck,  I  have  seen  no  game  to  beat.  I  have  got  a  gun, 
you  see," — and  Treacle  shook  his  pistol  ferociously — "  while  you  have 
only  a  boat-hook.  As,  though,  you  cannot  shoot  them  with  a  boat- 
hook,  I  suppose  you  have  your  pocket  full  of  fresh  salt  to  sprinkle  or 
their  tails !" 

It  was  rarely  that  Truck  put  on  dignity ;  but  now  he  looked  grave 
as  a  chaplain,  or  a  midshipman  expecting  promotion.  He  turned  his 
quid  twice  or  thrice  in  his  mouth,  and  th?n  broke  out  somewhat  in 
this  fashion : 

**  You  ugly,  little,  nnoivilizod  powder-monkey  ! — do  you  dare  to  plaj 


THE   WIZARD   CEEW.  ,  --25 

tricks  on  me,  Tom  Truck,  coxswain  of  the  captain  of  t'ne  Wizard  of  lfh% 
Wave  ?  you  swab,  you  wretch,  you  salt  junk  of  ingratitude  !  Did  not 
your  mother  rub  out  my  chalk  for  tobacco  and  smuggled  gin,  if  I  would 
just  let  you  drown  yourself  in  a  bucket  of  bilge-water?  You  poke 
your  speaking-trumpet  at  me,  you  wet  nurse,  you  sucking  cockney ' 
Look  here  !  now  just  start  up  a  fox,  a  hare,  or  some  other  bird,  or  I 
will  make  all  the  loblolly-boys  give  you  a  holy  stoning,  and  grease  you 
down  with  a  salt  eel  afterwards.  Away  with  you,  you  cribbing,  allow- 
ance-stealing insect !  or  I  will  give  you  a  box  as  big  as  a  captain's  sea- 
chest." 

Truck  would  probably  have  put  his  threat  into  execution,  had  not  & 
young  man,  in  the  handsome  uniform  of  the  royal  navy,  entered.  The 
new  comer  said :  "  Avast,  there,  Truck  !  What  on  earth  has  Little 
Slops  been  doing  ?"  The  new  comer  was  Mr.  Belford,  of  whom  we 
have  had  occason  to  speak  more  than  once. 

"  Done,  your  honor  !  done  !  He  never  did  anything.  I  brought  him 
along  because  he  bragged  about  his  sportsmanship.  He  teld  me  as  how 
he  once  went  shooting  in  some  wild  country  they  calls  Wardsworth, 
and  was  out  with  the  king  at  Epping,  or  some  where  in  foreign  parts, 
where  people  hunts  stags  and  sausages.  Bless  your  honor's  eyes  !  i 
thought,  before  now,  he  would  have  started  a  whole  convoy.  Bah  !  he 
is  not  worth  a  quid  of  tobacco,  that  has  been  chewed  for  ever  so  many 
days." 

Belford  laughed,  and  said :  "  Well,  Truck,  there  is  nothing  but  an 
iguana  to  be  started  here." 

"  Mr.  Belford,"  said  Treacle,  "  you  will  cert&inly  remember,  though 
this  old  sea-horse  forgets  it,  that  I  am  neither  a  hound  nor  a  pointer- 
dog.  If,  though,  I  can  be  of  use  to  a  brother  sportsman,  please  com- 
mand me.  But  this  old  sea-monster,  to  whom  my  mother,  now  an 
angel  in  heaven " 

Tom  Truck  looked  amazed,  and  yelled,  "  My  eyes !  your  mother  an 
angel !     I  swear,  lieutenant,  she  squinted." 

"  Never  mind  that,  Mr.  Belford.  As  Sergeant  Raddle  would  say,  it 
is  eyes  right  now  with  her.  She  fed  this  old  sea  dog  with  tobacco  and 
good  Holland  gin,  and  kept  him  clean  ;  and,  in  return,  the  old  vagabond 
tempted  me  to  sea.  So  the  last  of  the  house  of  Treacle  is  now  in  exile, 
wasting  his  sweetness  on  the  desert  air.  Sir,  sir,  it  is  too  paicful;" 
and  the  purser's  clerk  began  to  weep  sadly. 

"Lord,  Treacle,  don't  die  !"  said  Tom,  "or  the  devil  will  n:ix  up 
the  last  of  the  Treacles  with  the  last  of  his  brimstone.  You  would 
\tQ  useful  then,  my  lad,  especially  in  the  Glasgow  ships." 


26  TOM   TKUCK  :    OE, 

This  was  too  much  for  Treacle,  the  eyes  of  whom  flaohed  as  much  M 
they  could.     He  said  : 

*'  I  wish  I  dared  to  figh   ;  but  I  cannot." 

"  Truck,  I  shall  leave  you  and  go  ahead.  Mr.  Belford,  if  I  see  game, 
you  may  rely  on  me." 

And  Tim  left  in  utter  disgust. 

"  Tom,"  said  Belford,  "  have  you  kept  a  good  look-out?" 

"  Yes,  your  honor,  and  not  overhauled  one  petticoat.  You  must  have 
made  a  mistake  in  your  reckoning" 

Just  then  Tim  was  heard,  crying  out,  "  Lord  !  0  Lord  !  mercy !" 
and  he  rushed  up  to  the  two  sailors,  throwing  himself  on  hid  knees. 
"  A  tiger  !  sir  !  sir  !  a  wild  cat !  a  lion  !     Ah,  such  eyes  !" 

"  Why  the  devil,  if  you  be  such  a  sportsman,  did  you  not  shoot?" 
said  Truck. 

But  the  long,  shrill  scream  of  a  woman  was  heard  amid  the  foliage, 
and  Belford  at  once  recognized  the  voice  as  Isabinda's ;  for  it  was  she 
he  had  come  to  seek,  and  at  once  he  rushed  from  the  party. 

Truck  would  have  followed  him.  but  Treacle  seized  hold  of  him,  and 
said : 

"Would  you  violate  your  promises  to  my  sainted  mother?" 

"  Blast  your  sainted  mother !"  said  Truck ;  "  let  me  go,  for  I  want 
to  see  the  game  you  are  afraid  to  look  at."  And  Tim  Treacle  was  left 
alone. 

"  Ah,  Lord  !  Lord  !"  said  Treacle,  "  I  shall  die ;"  and  he  threw  him- 
self on  the  ground  at  the  report  of  a  shot  in  the  brushwood,  while 
Truck,  rushing  in  with  Mie  old  negro  Domingo  we  have  before  spoken 
of,  had  nearly  stumbled  over  him. 

Truck  gave  the  prostrate  purser's  clerk  a  hearty  kick,  and  starting 
him  up,  said : 

"  You  beggarly  swab  j'ou.  take  care  of  this  big  Ingee-rubber  bottle 
of  the  best  Japan  ;"  and  at  the  same  time  he  threw  the  negro  on  the 
ground. 

Tim  Treacle  had  been  half  the  time  in  amazement,  and  finally  awoke 
with  the  cry . 

"  Dear  I  dear  !  it  is  the  devil !" 

"  Yes,  Senor!"  said  Domingo,  "  the  devil  is  always  white.  That  is 
the  devil . ' 

Nothing  more  conclusively  demonstrates  the  low  condition  of  the 
Guajiros  or  peasants,  and  the  negroes  of  Cuba  at  that  day,  than  the 
fact  that  all  the  crowd  started  away  in  the  most  ludicrous  terror,  fully 
eatiafied  that  all  Englishmen  were  devils      This  was  an  idea  earofullj 


THE    WIZARD   CKEW  27 

mculcated  by  the  government,  and  a  very  sufficient  reason  why  in  Cuba 
the  English  have  never  been  able  to  make  any  permanent  encroach- 
ment. 

We  stood  amazed  ;  and  after  a  lapse  of  time,  Captain  Falkner,  whom 
we  have  seen  before  at  the  Inn  of  Saint  Jago,  entered,  bearing  Isa- 
binda  in  his  arms,  followed  by  Belford  and  Truck,  who  dragged  Do 
mingo  by  the  collar. 

"  Just  in  time,  by  Heaven  !"  said  Falkner. 

"  Captain,"  said  Belford,  "  had  you  not  been  just  there,  she  must 
have  died.     Gad  !  how  beautiful !" 

"  Belford,  take  her  yourself  If  I  look  longer  on  her,  I  may  become 
your  rival." 

"  Captain,"  said  Belford,  respectfully,  "  did  duty  bring  you  to  this 
mountain?" 

"  Bah  !  Belford,  ask  no*  questions.     Look  after  the  girl.     There  ia 

about  all  this  a  secret  of  blood,  which ask  no  questions.     You  will 

know  more  when  the  bowl  is  slung  and  the  toast  "  H<>me  "  goes  around 
the  board.  Till  then,  the  Wizard  of  the  Wave  must  use  his  power  on 
land,  and  by  incantations  raise  desolating  storms  and  wonder-working 
transmutations.  Belford  !  Belford  !  even  now  you  seem  to  think  me 
some  Friar  Tuck  or  Merlin,  able  by  a  magic  word  to  change  all  the 
fate  of  creation." 

The  Spanish  lady  appeared  to  recover  her  consciousness,  and  Falkner 
and  Domingo,  in  obedience  to  one  of  those  instincts  unaccounted  for, 
left  Belford  and  herself  alone. 

The  young  lieutenant,  who  possessed  all  the  peculiarities  of  his 
native  land,  hung  over  the  beautiful,  dark-eyed  Spanish  maid  ;  and 
while  he  nursed  and  attended  her,  uttered  something  not  unlike  this  : 

"  Strange  are  his  words :  ha  !  she  revives.  Gad  !  how  beautiful  she 
is  !     Heavens  !     I  saw  her  at  the  governor's  !" 

The  Spanish  girl  revived,  and  said  :  "  The  panther  !  where,  where  ia 
it  ?     Its  eyes  were  fixed  on  me  !     I  had  just  left  my  father." 

"  WLo  is  your  father  V 

Domingo  stepped  up,  and  said  :  "  Her  mother's  husband  !" 

Truck  thought  it  the  height  of  impudence  for  a  black  man  to  speak  ; 
he  had  been  on  the  Jamaica  station  ;  and  said  :  "  Father  and  mother* 
you  know  nothing  of  either,  for  you  were  made-  of  charcoal  and  a 
grease-spot." 

"  Lady,  let  me  conduct  you  heme." 

The  lady  bowed  assent,  and  had  already  half  arisen,  when  old 
Domingo  started  up,  and  said  : 


28  TOM  Ts,ncK ;  oRj 

"•  No,  I  will  not !  Let  me  take  my  mistress  home ;  for  my  mastei 
would  be  oft'ended  if  au  Englishman  spoke  to  her. 

"  True  !  true  !"  said  Isabinda  ;  "  yet  he  will  not  be  angry  if  I  thank 
you  for  having  saved  my  life.  Adio^,  sir,  and  believe  no  stories  against 
your  nation  can  ever  prevent  my  gratefulness,  to  one  to  whom  I  owe 
so  much." 

Sbe  hurried  away  with  old  Domingo,  and  Tom  Truck  looked  after 
ber  with  amazement. 

"  Phew  I"  said  he,  "  is  not  that  fine  ?  a  bumboat  sailing  consort  with 
a  spanking  frigate  f  Bah  !  your  honor,  you  had  grappled  and  hitched 
ber,  yet  suffered  her  to  sheer  off.  Lord  !  Lord  !  old  Rodney  did  no* 
do  so." 

What  Tom  Truck  said  was  utterly  unnoticed,  for  Belford  continued 
to  stand  alone,  and  moodily  talked  as  if  to  himself     He  said  : 

•'  There  never  was  anything  so  beautiful.  You  are  right,  Tom  Truck , 
I  was  wrong  to  lose  the  chase.  Come  on,  and  at  least  I  will  find  her 
port." 

"  Ah  !"  said  Truck,  "  that  is  the  best  thing  that  can  be  done  now; 
but  a  stern  chase  is  a  long  chase.  May  I  go  down  in  a  waterlogged  ship, 
if  it  be  not  a  shame  for  a  sailor  to  lose  sight  of  such  a  pretty  prize  !  I 
never  do  such  things ;  for  though  tliey  say  I  do  not  like  women,  I 
grapple  everything  that  wears  a  petticoat — -white,  black,  or  brown  !*' 

The  lieutenant  had  already  gone,  and  the  coxwain  followed  him 


CHAPTER    III. 


THE   GROTTO. 


We  had  lost  sight  of  the  purser's  clerk  just  before  the  lieutenant  met 
Isabinda,  and  meet  him  again,  as  old  Truck  would  say,  in  strange  lati- 
tudes. After  he  had  been,  so  to  say,  driven  away,  he  had  rushed 
blindly  into  the  undergrowth  ;  and  after  the  lapse  of  a  brief  time,  found 
himself  at  the  entrance  of  one  of  those  caverns  which  are  so  common  in 
all  those  countries,  the  formation  of  which  is  what  geologists  call  secon- 
dary. 

When  Treacle  came  to  the  entrance  of  the  cave,  with  the  peculiarity 
of  all  small  minds,  he  could  but  exclaim: 

''  What  an  odd  place,  to  be  sure  ? — a  kind  of  underground  dining- 
loom.    Who  would  have  fancied  I  could  got  into  such  a  very  agreeable 


THE   WIZARD   CKEW.  29 

plac*  ?  It  is  quite  a  discovery,  I  declare.  Lord  !  it  is  pleasant,  for 
from  the  outside  I  can  see  the  town.  Somebody  comes.  Who  can  it 
be  ?  May  be  the  wild  savage  that  lives  here.  Here  they  come  ! 
Wither  shall  I  go  ?" 

The  sound  of  footsteps  continued  to  increase,  and  Tim  Treacle  fell 
on  his  knees  just  in  time  to  avoid  being  seen  by  the  stranger,  with 
black  cloak  and  hat,  we  have  already  known  at  the  iun  of  Donna  Ca- 
pella. 

The  stranger  passed  hastily  in,  and  said,  as  if  he  talked  to  himself: 
'  Even  now  she  is  here  on  the  hill,  and  in  this  cage  I  must  hide  her, 
which  will  enable  me  to  carry  her  on  board." 

He  drew  from  a  recess  a  small  table  and  sat  down,  continuing  hia 
meditations,  and  said : 

'•  Little  do  the  English  think,  from  this  high  nook  I  have  watched 
their  every  movement,  since  first  they  anchored  on  these  shores." 

The  stranger  opened  a  chest,  and  took  from  it  a  parchment,  which 
he  placed  on  the  ground. 

"  Aha  !"  said  he,  "  naught  like  eating  and  drinking  cures  sorrow. 
All  ready  !  By  this  time,  she  must  have  crossed  the  bridge,  and 
Domingo  dare  not  resist.  If  he  does,  he  dies.  Now  Donna  Isabinda, 
the  most  faithful  of  your  slaves  awaits  you." 

The  stranger  left  the  cavern.  Tim  looked  on,  and  though  what  hia 
contrymen  call  timersome,  he  was  no  coward  ;  he  said,  as  he  arose  : 

"  Well,  more  wonders  !  I  wonder  if  it  be  bona-fide  wine.  I  am  so 
hungry — and  so  very  dry" — (between  his  expression  of  hunger  and 
thirst,  satisfying  at  least  the  last  of  these  two  necessities  of  nature.) 
"  Hark,"  said  he  ;  "I  hear  footsteps ;  may  be  it  was  poison — no,  it  was 
not,  no  !  no  !  it  tastes  too  good.  But  may  be  no  one  knows  what  any- 
body meets  in  these  strange  lands.  Lord  !  I  am  so  thirsty  !  Lord  !  I 
am  ofiF !  I  am  off  !" 

He  rushed  to  the  door ;  but,  at  the  very  outlet,  met  Truck,  who  ad- 
vanced, shouting,  in  his  merry,  cheerful,  voice  ; 

"  Yo  ho  !  your  honor  !  here  is  a  port." 

'•  Oh,  dear !"  said  Treacle,  who  did  not  recognize  the  new  comer , 
'  here  he  is  !"  and  the  poor  devil  at  once  rushed  into  an  excavation  aa 
he  did  so,  muttering  to  himself. 

"  Lord !  here  is  every  accommodation,  even  graves  ready  made." 

Scarcely  had  he  uttered  these  words,  when  Belford,  accompanied  by 
Truck,  entered  the  cavern  and  looked  around  them.  The  scene  was  a 
•trange  one ;  for  no  architect  had  more  delicately  balanced  a  dome, 
ihan  the  grea   master-builder,  Nature,  had  this  tropical  cave. 


'60  TOM.   TRUCK  ;   OE, 

"  Lord  bl^'s  your  Honor  !  it's  beautiful,  and  Nature  has  fixed  up 
Bupper  fit  for  the  Lord  High-Admiral,"  said  Truck,  as  he  pointed  Ut 
the  bottles  which  stood  on  the  table. 

Tim  Treacle  showed  his  head,  and  in  a  fearful  voice,  said  : 

"  Master  coxswain,  are  you  sure  it  is  wioe  ?" 

Old  Truck  was  a  sailor  who  had  sailed  around  thre  world,  and 
nothing  on  earth  could  amaze  him  ;  and  the  sound  of  Treacle's  voice 
recalled  too  vivid  recollections  of  the  purser's  store-rcom,  ever  to  b* 
forgotten.     So  he  at  once  exclaimed  : 

"  Hallo,  you  mole  !  what  is  the  next  rarity  ?  Come,  Mr.  mole,  show 
your  bearings." 

"  Oh,  Mr.  Truck,  are  you  sure  it  is  wine  ?  Lord  !  I  thought  it  was 
poison." 

Truck  paid  no  attention  to  Treacle,  but  looked  carefully  around 
him  ;  at  last  he  saw  the  roll  which  the  unknown  stranger  had  opened, 
and  taking  it  up,  unfolded  it. 

"What  have  we  here?"  said  he. 

"  Ah  !  he  called  it  '  the  code,'  I  think.  But,  Mr.  Truck,  do  yov 
think  that  is  wine?" 

"  By  the  Lord  !  it  is  a  code  of  signals,  and  the  flags  are  not  Brit 
ish,"  said  Belford,  who  had  taken  the  roll  from  Truck. 

Treacle  was  in  the  greatest  terror,  but  seeing  how  calm  the  lieu- 
tenant and  coxswain  were,  sought  to  repress  his  terror,  and  said  to 
Belford : 

"Please,  your  honor,  are  there  no  gold  mines  in  these  hills?" 

'^  Ah  !"  said  Belford,  yet  lost  in  thought ;  "  the  returns  of  the  mines 
have  recently  been  much  diminished.  Robbery  has  been  suspected, 
and  Captain  Falkner  has  doubtless  been  sent  hither  to  detect  it.  By 
this  chart,  it  will  be  easy  to  communicate  with  the  unknown  schooner." 

"  Ah  !"  said  Tim ;  "  the  government  will  be  liberal  in  rewarding  the 
discovery  of  these  proofs,  and  I  will  doubtless  touch  something  very 
handsome." 

Truck  seemed  indignant  at  the  idea  of  a  purser's  clerk  claiming 
reward  or  prize-money,  and  shrieked  out: 

"  You  impudent,  young  grampus " 

He  would  have  continued  his  harangue  to  an  indefinite  length,  but 
that  the  shrill  cry  of  a  woman  was  heard,  apparently  immediately 
above  them. 

"  Come,  Truck"  said  the  lieutenant,  "  follow  me." 

"  Aye,  aye,  your  honor  !  Bless  my  eyes !  warn't  tha*i  a  squall  * 
Follow  you,  weazel,  and  be  d  — d  to  you  !" 


THE  WIZARD    CEEW.  SJ 

"  Will  I  ?  I'll  get  under  batches  till  the  squall  \»  over,  for  the  gOT- 
ernment  will  never  sufficiently  reward  the  risk  we  run ;"  and  Trcacl« 
retired  into  the  hole,  whence  he  emerged  when  the  sailors  entered. 

Scarcely  had  he  done  so,  than  the  unknown  stranger  entered  the 
cave,  wearing  a  blaok  mask  over  his  face,  and  bearing  Isabinda  in  hia 
arms.  He  placed  her  on  a  chair,  and  after  a  brief  pause,  for  Isabinda 
was  no  fragilely-formed  being,  said  : 

"  I  heard  men's  voices  on  the  other  side  of  the  rock :  they  however 
saw  me  not.  She  revives — oh  !  if  her  swoon  would  last  until  the  coast 
is  clear.     Hark  !  let  me  listen." 

He  stood  in  breathless  attention,  and  after  a  moment,  said : 

"  Well,  all  is  right." 

Isabinda  had  revived,  and  looking  around  her,  said  wildly: 

"Where  am  I?  What  strange  face  is  this?  Do  I  dream?  V/hom 
do  I  see?     Oh,  you  will  not  harm  me?     Let  me  leave  this  place!" 

The  poor  girl  started  to  go ;  but  the  stranger  interposed  himself  be- 
tween her  and  the  outlet,  and  said  : 

"  You  are  right.  I  will  not  harm  you ;  but  you  must  not  as  yet 
leave  this  place." 

"  Heaven  !"  said  the  poor  girl,  "  what  mean  you?" 

'•  That  henceforth  and  forever  the  chain  that  unites  us  is  indissoluble. 
The  most  tender  love,  riches  and  power  shall  be  yours;  but  all  friends 
are  lost  to  you ;  for  mine  and  only  mine  you  must  be  from  this  hour." 

Isabinda  uttered  a  cry  of  terror,  and  called  wildly  on  her  father  and 
on  Domingo,  making  the  eavern  ring  again. 

"  Be  silent."  said  the  stranger,  '•  if  you  would  live  ;"  and  be  advanced 
towards  her. 

"  Domingo  !  father  !  save  roe  !" 

•'  Be  silent,  or  you  die." 

He  seized  her  by  the  arm,  when  the  lieutenant  and  coxswain  rushed 
in  ;  the  latter  with  a  single  blow  felling  the  stranger  to  the  ground, 
while  Belford  took  charge  of  Isabinda,  and  Truck,  in  hia  peculiar 
etyle,  said  : 

"  Weil,  my  fine  fellow,  that  is  what  I  call  a  dead  luff  in  the  wind's 
eye.     Come,  my  picaroon,  off  with  your  velvet  face  !" 

The  old  coxswain  pulled  off  the  mask,  and  when  he  had  done  so, 
started  back  in  surprise.  "  Whew  !  your  honor,"  said  he  to  the  lieu- 
tenant, "  here  is  a  sad  affair,  indeed  1     Why,  it  is  Captain  Falkner  !" 

"  Captain  Falkner  !"  said  Belford. 

"  Just  as  sure  a3  my  name  is  Tom  Truck.  I  saw  him  with  this  verj 
dress  on  at  Donna  Capella's." 


1 


i^  TOM   TRUCK  ;    OB, 

*^  Is  he  dead  ?"  said  Isabinda. 

Belford  looked  amazed,  but  shouted  out  to  Truck,  "  Quick,  bring 
water  !  try  to  revive  him  !  Take  this  lady  to  some  place  of  safety,  and 
hurry  back.  Come,  lady,  fate  has  made  me  your  champion,  and  I  will 
not  fail  you." 

He  took  the  lady,  who  was  almost  overcoruej  from  the  cavern,  and 
left  Truck  aloue,  as  he  thought. 

The  old  sailor  soliloquized  : 

'•What  on  earth  can  I  do?  Wine  will  not  put  life  into  a  dead 
man.  A  precious  stormy  watch,  I've  got  this  spell !  The  lieutenant 
will  be  tried  and  shot  for  murdering  his  captain,  and  Tom  Truck  hung 
as  a  necessary  or  accessory.  Who  the  devil  ever  thought  the  captain 
such  a  creature  for  the  petticoats?" 

Truck  made  the  sage  remark,  however,  that  "  sorrow  is  dry,"  filled 
up  a  bumper  and  swallowed  it.  He  was  about  to  repeat  the  operation, 
when  he  was  suddenly  interrupted.  Weevil,  who,  it  will  be  remem- 
bered, we  have  previously  seen  with  the  officers  of  the  ''  Wizard  of  the 
Wave  "  at  Donna  Capella's,  rushed  in,  followed  by  a  portion  of  the  crew 
of  the  unknown  schooner. 

"Seize  him!"  said  Weevil. 

Truck  was  no  easy  man  to  be  seized,  even  by  sis  antagonists ;  butj 
after  a  severe  contest,  was  overpowered.  He  began  to  remonstrate, 
but  Weevil  at  once  exclaimed : 

"  Stop  that  talking  tackle  1" 

The  words  were  no  sooner  spoken,  than  a  gag  was  placed  in  the  cox- 
Bwaiu's  mouth. 

"  Come,"  said  Weevil,  "  throw  the  murderer  of  our  captain  over  the 
cliff.  Up  with  him  ;  not  a  word.  You  need  not  shake  your  head,  my 
fine  fellow,  for  one  or  two  minutes  will  settle  all  your  troubles." 

Three  of  the  pirates  bore  Truck  away,  and  the  rest  followed,  with 
the  body  of  the  myster'-^us  stranger. 

Truck  continued  to  resist  as  well  as  he  could,  and  when  the  coast 
was  clear,  Tim  Treacle  peeped  out. 

'•  I  must  change  my  quarters,"  said  he,  "  or  I  may  have  to  follow 
Truck  over  the  cliff.  I  wish  I  was  aboard.  It  is  getting  dark.  Lord  ! 
if  they  see  me  !  Every  hair  of  my  head  stands  out  like  a  capstan-bar 
Well,  all  is  still.     Lord  !  0,  Lord  !" 

And  Tim  disappeared  from  the  cavern,  in  which  in  a  shirt  time  had 
beec  enacted  the  material  of  at  least  three  melodramas 


THE    "NVIZAED    CSEW. 


83 


CHAPTER    IV 

A    BALL. 

A  Uall  on  ship-board  !  Few  but  those  who  live  in  great  8ea-porfc3 
h-Mjuently  visited  by  national  vessels,  are  aware  what  this  means.  If 
they  picture  to  themselves  a  brilliant  hall,  hung  with  curtains,  festooned 
with  drapery,  and  filled  with  perfume,  they  are  mistaken,  and  will  read 
a  description  of  a  more  picturesque  and  far  different  scene. 

The  flush  deck  is  cleared  ;  all  is  removed  except  the  battery,  and 
instead  of  golden  torches,  battle-lanterns — the  usual  lustres  of  the 
deadly  cockpit — are  hung.  Stars  of  cutlasses  and  bayonets  reflect  the 
light,  and  every  flag  that  floats  on  the  sea,  hangs  in  folds  above.  It  ia 
not  unlikely  that  a  summer  moon,  surrounded  by  myriads  of  stars, 
lends  its  mellowing  tints  to  the  scene,  and  that  perfumes  of  the  flowers 
of  some  gentle  land  are  wafted  to  the  vessel's  side. 

Such  was  the  scene  on  the  deck  of  the  Wizard  of  the  Wave,  not  long 
after  the  most  perilous  adventures  we  have  described  on  the  heights  of 
Santiago.  The  deck  was  filled  with  the  dark-eyed  dames  of  the  island, 
mingled  with  whom  were  Spanish  gentlemen,  and  here  and  there  the 
blue  and  gold  of  the  British  navy.  The  band  was  on  the  quarter-deck, 
and  the  ship's  crew,  in  white  jackets  and  trousers,  were  in  view.  The 
marines,  in  their  scarlet  jackets,  were  drawn  up  in  order,  and  the  dance 
was  merrily  proceeding.  Gay  couples  twined  the  luxurious  waltz,  and 
here  and  there,  behind  the  cover  of  some  sail,  a  couple  might  be  in- 
dulging in  the  luxury  of  a  quiet  flirtation. 

The  dance  at  length  ceased,  and  Falkner,  with  several  of  his  officers, 
detached  themselves  from  the  crowd  ;  and  though  Manly  the  other 
lieutenant,  and  Hearton  the  master,  were  visible  in  their  rich  uniforms, 
Belford  was  not  seen. 

'•  Well,  gentlemen,"  said  the  captain,  "  the  ship  looks  well,  and  the 
fair  ones  of  Santiago  could  not  resist  the  temptation  of  a  ball.  I  hope, 
gentlemen,  you  will  not  permit  any  of  them  to  doubt  our  mortality." 

The  officers  laughed,  and  were  about  dispersing  again,  when  Manly 
said : 

"  The  governor  has  not  yet  come." 

"  No ;  I  wait  but  to  receive  him,  and  then  I  must  go  ashora 
Where,  though,  is  Belford  ?     Who  has  seen  him  ?" 


34:  TOM  TRUCK  ;    OE, 

"  None  have  seen  him,"  said  Mauly.  "  I  trust  nothing  has  befallen 
him." 

"  Was  not  my  coxswain  with  him  ?"  said  the  captain. 

"  Yes,  sir,  and  Tim,  the  purser's  clerk.  They  went  on  a  murderoua 
expedition  against  the  birds.  Tim  says  he  is  a  great  sportsmaa. 
When  he  shuts  his  eyes " 

"  Come,  gentlemen  ;  to  the  ladies ! — each  to  his  part,  av/ay  !  It  maj 
be  Belford  has  made  some  discovery,  and  I  must  be  on  the  watch,  lest, 
in  the  turmoil  of  the  night,  they  elude  me.  If  the  governor  were  on 
board,  I  could  elude  them." 

Scarcely  had  he  uttered  these  words,  than  the  voice  of  the  watch 
was  heard,  crying  out: 

"  Boat  alongside !" 

It  landed,  and  from  it  came  Donna  Capella  and  others,  among 
whom  was  a  person  in  a  most  conspicuous  dress.  The  new  comers  did 
not,  however,  at  all  interfere  with  the  festivity,  and  a  new  dance  was 
at  once  formed,  almost  all  the  officers  taking  their  places  with  the 
Spanish  belles. 

Before,  however,  the  music  had  begun,  the  watch  again  reported, 
"  Boat  alongside !"  and  the  reply  to  the  challenge  was : 

"  £1  gobernador  /" 

Scarcely  had  the  words  been  heard,  than  the  drums  beat  to  quarters, 
the  trumpets  sounded,  and  the  deep-mouthed  guns  paid  their  homage. 
The  person  we  have  already  mentioned  as  having  come  on  board  with 
Donna  Capella,  advanced,  and  hurried  after  Captain  Falkner,  as  if  to 
receive  the  governor. 

Don  Jose  de  Sandobal  came  on  board,  with  his  daughter  and  Dianez, 
and  advanced  at  once  to  the  captain,  the  hand  of  whom  he  shook. 
Falkner  bowed  kindly,  and  immediately  afterwards  the  person  in  the 
gorgeous  dress  took  the  governor's  arm,  and  with  Isabinda  was  lost 
amid  the  crowd. 

Manly,  who  was  a  bluff  old  lieutenant,  afraid  of  nothing,  advanced  to 
hia  captain  and  said,  firmly  but  respectfully : 

"  Captain,  who  is  that  gentleman  with  the  governor  ?" 

"  We  shall  know  when  he  takes  off  his  mask,"  was  the  reply. 

"  Yes,  sir ;  tut  he  has  been  examining  you  most  pointedly. 

"  Ah  !  Manly,  he  is  welcome.     Send  Hearten  to  me." 

At  this  moment  Isabinda,  the  governor,  and  the  riclily-dressed  person 
we  have  spoken  of,  entered  the  cabin.     Falkner,  without  pausing,  said  ; 

"  Mr  Manly,  I  am  going  ashore.  Not  a  word  of  my  absence  !  When 
Belford  comes,  give  him  this. 


THE    WIZAKD   CEEW.  35 

And  he  placed  a  bundle  of  papers  in  the  lieutenant's  hand. 

"  Is  my  gig  ready  ?" 

Manly  looked  over  the  side,  and  seeing  all  prepared,  said  : 

"  All  ready,  sir." 

Falkner  at  once  advanced  towards  the  gangway  ;  but  before  he  had 
eouinieuced  to  ascend,  Tim  Treacle  rushed  on  board,  and  exclaimed,  aa 
06  saw  Falkner : 

"  A  ghost !  a  Fetch  !  the  captain  !  the  devil !" 

The  poor  lad,  in  his  terror,  rushed  down  the  gangway.  This  appari- 
tion, however,  did  not  surprise  Falkner,  who  quietly  shook  hands  with 
Manly,  and  went  over  the  gangway. 

Manly  stood  amazed,  and  said,  "  All  this  is  very  strange.  I  do  not 
understand  ;  but  on  with  the  dance." 

The  dance  was  resumed,  and  all  went  merry  as  a  marriage  bell. 

,vfter  a  few  moments,   the  governor  and    Isabinda,  accompanied   by 

he  stranger,  came  up  from   the   cabin,  the   stanger  yet  wearing  his 

Aoaik  over   the  .'ower  part  of  his  body,  but  uncovering  his  head  and 

ihoulder. 

A  boat  was  heard  alongside,  and  several  officers  advanced  to  the  gang 
way  to  welcome  the  new  comer.  Belford  sprang  upon  deck,  and  at 
once  received  the  papers  which  the  captain  had  left  for  him.  He  read 
them  carefully,  and  approached  the  governor,  by  the  side  of  whom  Isa- 
binda stood. 

He  too  seemed  to  partake  of  the  general  surprise,  and  when  he  saw 
her,  said : 

"  Is  it  possible !  the  daughter  of  the  governor  !"  He  advanced  to 
wards  her,  and  was  about  to  speak,  when  the  Unknown  advanced  and 
removed  his  mask. 

When  he  saw  his  face,  the  young  lieutenant,  though  used  to  many  a 
scene  of  danger,  started  back  in  terror,  and  exclaimed.: 

'■  Good  God  !  he  alive  1     It  is  either  an  illusion,  or  he  is  the  devil." 

The  young  man  seemed  completely  overcome,  and  staggered  until 
almost  fainting,  into  the  master's  arms.     He  exclaimed : 

"  It  is  the  captain,  yet  only  a  few  moments  ago  I  saw  him  dead.  I 
ahall  go  mad !'' 

The  scene  we  have  described  put  an  end  to  the  dance.  All  rushed 
from  the  ship,  and  in  a  moment  or  two  the  ship's  crew  alone  remained. 

All  this  may  have  seemed  most  mysterious  to  the  lookers  on,  but  to 
us,  who  have  followed  the  intricacies  of  the  web  of  the  story  we  have 
been  weaving,  the  matter  will  not  seem  obscure ;  for  such  things  have 
uiore  that  once  happened  since  the  days  of  Perkin  Warbeck — Nature 


36  TOM  TErcK  ;  oe, 

sometimes  loving  to  disport  herself  by  strange  similitudes,  as  she  fre« 
queutly  does  by  contrasts.     A  deadly  game  was  being  played  by  the 
stranger,  who,  either  by  some   deep-felt   sympathy  or  antipathy,  was 
arrayed  with  the  captain  of  the  Wizard  of  the  Wave. 
Time  will,  however,  explain  all  the  mystery. 


Nothing  will  more  truly  describe  the  characters  of  Truck  and  Lieu- 
tenant Belford,  who  often  will  figure  in  this  narrative,  than  the  follow- 
ing story,  which  had  passed  between  the  two  during  one  of  their  long 
midnight  watches.     After  a  chat  for  some  minutes — 

"  I  say,  lieutenant,"  said  Truck,  "  What  on  earth  is  the  reason  that 
women  have  such  a  passion  for  sailors  ?  Bless  your  soul,  sir,  the 
landsmen  have  no  chance  when  the  blue  jackets  are  about !" 

"  So  it  seems,"  said  Belford,  "  and  sailors  have  strange  fates  with 
women.     I  could  tell  you  a  story  to  prove  it." 

"  Bide  a  bit,  sir,  till  I  strike  the  bell." 

The  old  coxswain  returned,  and  said  : 

"  Heave  ahead,  lieutenant,  and  spin  your  yarn.  I  will  listen  as  if 
the  admiral  had  the  trumpet. 

THE    lieutenant's    STORY. 

Henry  Steerwell  was  as  brave  a  seaman  as  ever  handled  a  marlin 
spike,  or  mounted  a  maiutopmast  ;  ever  kind  and  open-hearted,  no  man 
was  more  respected  throughout  his  Majesty's  fleet.  His  messmates 
would  have  laid  down  their  lives  for  him  ;  his  superior  officers  esteemed 
him  as  ar  equal,  and  t^  iJ.mJe  sex,  having  once  seen  him,  were  ready 
to  give  their  hearts  into  his  custody.  But,  although  Harry  loved  a 
petticoat  as  dearly  as  he  did  his  ship,  he  had  not  yet  seen  a  female  with 
whom  he  could  fancy  entering  upon  the  sometimes  rough  voyage  of 
matrimony. 

Harry  Steerwell,  at  the  time  my  story  commences,  was  chief  mate  on 
bbard  a  vessel  bound  for  the  Baltic  seas,  and  which,  stopping  at 
Carlscroom,  he  became  acquainted  with  an  old  blind  man,  of  some 
property,  and  who  had  an  only  daughter,  more  lovely  than  imagination 
can  form  an  idea  of.  Harry  thought  her  one  of  the  trimmest-built 
craft  he  had  ever  clapped  his  two  eyes  upon,  and,  for  the  first  time,  he 
felt  a  sensation  creeping  around  his  heart  that  he  could  not  but  inter- 
pret into  love. 

If  Harry  could  judge  by  the  smile  that  ever  played  around  the  coral 
lips  of  Paulinia  and  the  modest  blushes  which  ever  suffused  her  cheeks 


THE   WIZAIID   CREW.  37 

m  his  presence,  lie  niigbt  guess  that  she  viewed  him  with  anything  but 
indifference  ;  and,  at  last,  emboldened  by  his  hopes,  and  the  friendship 
her  father  ever  evinced  towards  him,  he  resolved  at  once  to  confess  to 
her  the  real  state  of  his  mind,  and  to  sue  for  a  return  of  that  passion  he 
so  sincerely  entertained  towards  her.  Harry  was  not  long  in  putting 
this  determination  into  effect — the  maiden  was  delighted  by  hearing 
an  acknowledgment  of  a  riciprocal  attachment — and  the  lovers  had 
nothing  left  to  do,  but  to  throw  themselves  at  the  feet  of  Paulinia's 
father,  and  solicit  his  consent  to  their  nuptials,  which  they  felt  convinced 
be  would  not  withhold  from  them.  In  this  hope  they  were  not  disap- 
pointed ;  the  old  man  heard  them  with  pleasure,  and  readily  gave  his^ 
sanction  to  their  union. 

In  the  course  of  a  few  weeks  after  this,  Harry  became  the  husband 
of  Paulinia,  and  their  bliss  was  unbounded.  But  soon  the  ardor  of 
their  joy  was  damped,  when  the  time  drew  near  for  the  vessel  to  which 
our  hero  belonged  to  return  to  England.  The  bride  of  Harry  was 
anxious  to  accompany  him,  for  her  mind  could  not  endure,  with  any 
degree  of  patience,  the  thought  of  a  separation  from  him  whom  her 
very  soul  adored  ;  but,  much  as  he  adored  his  wife,  he  could  not  think 
of  exposing  her  to  the  perils  of  the  ocean,  especially  as  she  was  now 
enciente  ;  he  therefore  endeavored  to  calm  her  feelings,  telling  her  ho 
would  return  to  England  with  the  vessel,  obtain  his  discharge,  come 
back  to  her,  and  never  be  parted  from  her  more.  His  persuasions  and 
the  counsel  of  her  father,  at  length  tranquillized  her  spirits,  and  she 
yielded  her  consent  to  the  proposals  of  her  husband. 

And  now  the  day  of  separation  arrived  ;  it  s  one  of  the  most  affeo- 
tionate  that  can  be  conceived.  For  a  few  minutes  they  hung  around: 
each  other's  neck,  unable  to  utter  a  syllable,  such  was  the  violence  of 
their  grief;  but  at  last  Paulinia,  recovering  herself,  impressed  a  last 
fond  ardent  kiss  upon  the  lips  of  Harry,  and  impressively  addressing; 
him,  said  : 

"  My  dear  husband,  you  are  going  into  foriegn  climes,  where  tempt- 
ation may  cross  your  path.  I  do  not  suspect  your  faith,  Harry,  but 
still  it  is  a  womanish  weakness  that  I  cannot  entirely  divest  myself  of. 
Swear  then,  dear  Harry,  and  I  will  do  the  same,  that  iu  whatever  couir 
try  you  may  be,  or  whatever  time  or  distance,  you  will  never  forget 
your  poor  Paulinia,  but  bring  her  back  this  farting  kiss  as  pure  as  you 
now  receive  it." 

Impressed  with  the  seriousness  of  her  manner,  Harry  knelt,  and  rais- 
ing his  hands  and  eyes  towards  Heaven,  took  the  oath  she  required  of 
him.      Paulinia  seemed    satisfied  j    her  countenance  was   once  more. 


oS  TOM   TRUCK  ;    OE, 

enlightened  by  the  smile  of  composure,  and,  straining  her  husband  fof 
the  last  time  passionately  to  her  bosom,  she  uttered  one  more  '  fara- 
Well,"  and  rushed  back  to  the  home  of  her  father,  while  Harry  was  soon 
afterwards  sailing  over  the  Baltic  billows. 

In  the  course  of  a  few  months  Paulinia  brought  into  the  world  a 
beauteous  boy,  the  very  resemblance  of  his  father,  and,  as  she  gazed 
upon  the  smiling  innocent  witli  fond  transport,  she  pictured  to  herself 
the  delight  which  her  dear  Harry  would  experience  when  he  beheld 
the  cherub  countenance  of  his  boy.  Oh.  how  anxiously  did  she  look 
forward  to  the  time  when  she  expected  her  husband  to  return  !  and 
even  weeks  before  the  time  appointed  had  expired,  she  rambled  to  the 
beach,  and  strained  her  lovely  e^'es  by  gazing  upon  the  ocean,  in  the 
hopes  of  seeing  the  vessel  in  which  she  expected  her  husband  to  re- 
turn. But,  alas  !  the  time  arrived  ;  it  passed  ;  months  followed,  and 
still  Harry  returned  not ;  what  could  be  the  reason  ?  He  was  not 
drowned  ?"  Oh.  no  ;  she  could  not,  dared  not  encourage  such  a  dread- 
;ful  idea. 

"  i^h,  no  I"  she  would  exclaim,  in  the  words  of  the  poet : 

"  '  I  know  there's  <a  Providence  sits  up  aloft, 
To  keep  watch  for  the  life  of  poor  Jack.'  " 

•But  then,  as  ehe  divested  herself  of  these  melancholy,  ideas,  others 
-equally  fearful  beset  her  brain.  Had  Harry  been  false  to  her  ?  Had 
ihe  foro-otten  his  vows,  and  plighted  his  vows  to  another  ?  These  ideas 
however,  she. could  not  long  entertain,  and  she  reproached  herself  for 
ihus  suspectin^g  the  ^delity  of  her  beloved  husband.  But  when  years 
flew  away,  and  she  obtained  no  intelligence  of  him,  then  indeed  did 
Paulinia  begin  to  think  that  he  had  deserted  her  and  her  child. 

Five  years  vwere  now  e!laps.ed  since  they  had  separated,  and  notwith- 
-Btanding  Paulinia  and  her  fniher  had  made  every  possible  inquiry,  they 
were  unable  to  obtain  any  tidings  of  Harry.  Paulinia.  unable  any 
longer  to  endure  this  state  of  suspense  and  uncertainty,  determined  to 
de-part  to  seek,  by  every  .means  in  her  power,  to  ascertain  the  reason  of 
Harry's  prolonged  absence.  This  resolution  she  put  into  execution  as 
soon  as  a  vessel  bound  for' England  stopped  at  Carlscroom  ;  and,  after 
a  pleasant  voyage,  the  Bride  of  the  Baltic  and  her  little  boy  arrived 
;Safe  at  Queenborough. 

In  the  meantime,  the  sufferings  of  poor  Harry  had  been  of  the  most 
vexatious  nature.  When  the  vessel  in  which  he  had  sailed  had  reached 
England,  and  he  and  the  rest  of  the  orew  were  about  to  go  ashore,  they 
were  all  pressed  <it  being  in  the  time  of  .war),  and  our  hero,  with  a  few 


THE   WIZARD   CKEW.  3D 

of  liis  messmates,  was  sent  on  board  the  Insolent,  one  ot  tho  most 
noble  vessels  in  his  Majesty's  navy. 

The  reader  may  well  conceive  what  his  feelings  were  on  this  occa- 
sion ;  a  thousand  times  he  cursed  his  fate,  and  then,  when  he  thought 
of  his  poor  Paulinia,  the  misery  she  would  endure  at  his  mysterious 
and  unaccountable  absence,  and  the  probability  there  was  that  they 
might  never  meet  again,  his  mind  was  distracted.  Time,  however 
somewhat  appeased  his  grief,  and  the  novelty  of  the  scenes  he  mingled 
in  drew  his  attention  partially  from  his  affliction. 

"  In  toil  and  battle  five  long  years 
He  did  a  seaman's  duty," 

and  was  esteemed  one  of  the  bravest  sailors  in  the  ship.  At  length  the 
ship  returned  to  England,  and  what  was  our  hero's  delight  to  learn  that, 
on  her  next  voyage,  she  would  drop  the  Baltic  Ocean  ?  He  therefore 
resolved  to  purchase  his  discharge,  and  return  to  his  dear  Paulinia, 
never  more  to  be  separated  from  her  in  this  world. 

It  was  a  merry  night  at  the  "  Fire-ship,"  kept  by  old  Ben  Blaze, 
formerly  a  man  o'-war's-man,  when  tlie  Insolent  was  about  to  set  sail 
from  Queenborough  for  the  Baltic  billows ;  at  least  it  was  so  for  Harry 
Steerwell,  for  he  anticipated  the  joy  of  his  restoration  to  the  arms  of 
Paulinia — and  he  anticipated  the  pleasure  he  should  experience  at 
beholding,  perhaps,  a  son  to  do  honor  to  his  name  and  increase  his  hap- 
piness. 

'•  Splice  my  maintop-sail,"  he  exclaimed,  "  if  I  wouldn't  make  the  boy 
9.  rear-admiral !" 

After  taking  a  parting  glass  of  grog  with  his  old  friend,  Ben  Blaze, 
Harry  and  his  messmates  prepared  to  go  on  board,  for  already  had  the 
Bignal-gun  been  fired  for  them  to  hasten  to  the  vessel.  The  seamen, 
with  heavy  hearts,  kissed  the  tear-bedewed  cheeks  of  their  pretty 
sweethearts,  and  vowed  to  cherish  them  in  their  memories  with  una- 
bated affection  during  their  perilous  voyage,  and  all  had  departed  oa 
board  save  Harry,  at  the  same  time  the  Tally-Ho  coach  was  about  to 
start  for  London. 

At  the  moment  Harry  was  in  the  act  of  stepping  into  the  boat  to  go 
to  the  vessel,  his  eyes  rested  on  the  neat  little  figure  of  a  boy  who  was 
about  to  hasten  to  the  coach.  There  was  something  in  the  face  of  this 
child,  who  seemed  to  be  about  four  years  of  age,  that  particularly  inte- 
rested Harry ;  the  features  seemed  familiar  to  him  ;  and  as  he  gazed 
upon  them,  his  heart  swelled,  and  ho  could  not  help  stopping  and  im- 
printing a  kiss  upon  his  rosy  checks.  The  boy  appeared  very  well 
pleased  with  this  attention,  and  smiling  archly,  he  said ; 


4:0  TOM   TKUCK  ;    OB, 

'•  Oh,  bow  I  do  love  a  sailor." 

"  Do  you,  my  little  king  ?"  exclaimed  the  delighted  Harry  ;  "  blew 
his  little  heart ! — now  I  shouldn't  wonder  but  I  may  have  a  son  about 
his  age  at  home.  Lor'  !  Lor'!  what  a  happy  fellow  I  should  be,  to  be 
sure,  if  that  was  the  case  !  If  I  wouldn't  make  him  an  admiral,  shivei 
my  timbers.  So  you  love  a  sailor,  do  you,  my  little  man  ?  And  who 
told  you  to  love  him  ?" 

'•  Why,"  answered  the  child,  "  mamma  always  told  me  to  love  one  as 
dearly  as  my  life,  for  she  said  my  father  was  a  sailor,  and  you  know  I 
must  love  my  father." 

"What  a  sweet  little  prattler,"  said  Harry;  "  oh,  what  a  pleasur* 
it  must  be  to  have  such  a  child  as  this  1  Let  me  see  if  I  haven't  gol 
a  present  for  you,  my  little  man.  Here,  here  is  a  silver  whistle  foi 
you,  and  when  you  look  upon  it,  do  not  forget  the  poor  tar  who  gave  it 
you." 

"  Oh,  no,  that  I  won't,"  cried  the  boy,  gazing  with  delight  upon  the 
gift. 

"  Bless  you,  bless  you,  my  little  man  !"  ejaculated  Harry,  once 
more  kissing  the  child,  and  not  being  able  to  stay  any  longer,  he 
stepped  into  the  boat  that  rowed  to  the  vessel,  while  the  child  skipped 
lightly  into  the  coach  to  his  mother,  which  started  almost  immediately 
for  London. 

What  transport  would  have  filled  the  bosom  of  poor  Harry,  had  he 
known  that  this  "  sweet  little  prattler,"  as  he  termed  him,  was  his  own 
son.  But  such  was  nevertheless  the  case  ;  and,  in  the  very  coach  that 
started  to  London,  at  the  moment  the  boat  was  rowed  from  sliorc,  con- 
taining our  hero  was  seated  his  beauteous  wife,  Paulinia.  Alas  !  how 
would  his  mind  have  been  disturbed,  had  he  known  the  danger  to  which 
she  was  at  that  moment  exposed  ! 

By  a  most  remarkable  circumstance,  it  so  happened  that,  on  the 
very  day  on  which  the  Insolent  set  sail  for  the  Baltic  seas,  Paulinia, 
with  her  child,  had  arrived  at  the  Fire  ship  inn,  to  await  a  coach  to 
convey  them  to  London.  Thither  had  the  distracted  Paulinia  deter 
mined  to  go  in  search  of  that  husband  whom  she  now  apprehended 
had  deserted  her,  and,  as  a  last  resource,  had  resolved  to  apply  to  the 
Admiralty  Office,  to  ascertain,  if  possiblOj  whether  Harry  was  still  in 
existence. 

It  appeared  that  at  the  time  Mrs.  Steerwell  arrived  at  the  inn,  an 
old  gentleman,  in  a  gray  wig,  with  rather  an  unprepossessing  counte- 
nance, and  clad  in  a  suit  of  rusty  black,  was  standing  in  the  yard,  and 
WW  her  ecter.     This  individual  was  one  Lawyer  Twister,  who  being,  a« 


THE  WIZAED   CREW.  4:x 

be  deserved,  unsuccessful  in  his  own  profession  (for  he  was  an  infamous 
old  pettifogger),  had  become  the  villanous  tool  of  a  certain  Lord  Rest- 
less, a  libertine  and  debauchee.  This  guilty  nobleman  employed  Twis- 
ter to  entrap  the  unwary  country  maiden  to  satiate  his  sinful  desires, 
and  in  fact  he  could  not  have  selected  a  more  able  myrmidon. 

The  moment  Twister  cast  his  eyes  upon  PauUnia,  he  was  struck  with 
her  extraordinary  beauty,  and  he  beheld  in  her  a  woman  that  his  lord- 
ship would  be  enraptured  to  get  within  his  power.  He  resolved  to  gain 
possession  of  her,  and  with  that  design  he  insinuated  himself  into  her 
company,  and  finding  that  she  was  a  foreigner,  he,  by  the  most  artful 
means,  gathered  from  her  an  account  of  the  errand  she  was  going  upon. 
This  was  a  fortunate  circumstacce  for  the  villain  Twister,  and  he  deter- 
mined to  take  advantage  of  it.  He  therefore  informed  her  that  he  was 
going  to  London,  and,  as  it  was  extremey  dangerous  for  a  young  female 
of  her  character  to  travel  unprotected,  if  it  was  agreeable,  he  would  ac- 
company her  in  the  same  coach.  He  also  informed  her  that  he  had  a 
friend  in  town,  who  was  connected  with  the  Admiralty  Ofl5ce,  and  who 
would  be  enabled  to  give  her  every  information  respecting  the  mysteri- 
ous absence  of  her  husband. 

Paulinia,  who  had  no  suspicion  of  the  real  character  of  Twister,  and 
believing  him  to  be  a  gentleman  and  a  man  of  honor,  thanked  him 
politely  for  his  offers,  and  with  becoming  modesty  accepted  them.  By 
a  strange  fatality  she  stepped  into  the  Tally  Ho,  to  go  to  London,  at 
the  very  moment  the  husband  she  was  so  anxious  to  see  was  rowed  oflF 
to  that  vessel  which  was  to  bear  him  to  the  home  she  had  left. 

It  happened  on  board  the  same  ship  with  Harry  was  one  Lieutenant 
Carr,  whose  tyrannical  manners  had  rendered  him  hateful  to  all  the 
crew,  and  there  was  not  a  man  among  them  but  would  willingly  have 
consigned  him  to  the  sharks.  Just  after  the  vessel  had  quitted  Queen- 
borough,  Lieutenant  Carr  dropped  a  pocket-book  upon  deck,  which  con- 
tained documents  to  him  of  the  greatest  consequence.  One  of  the 
sailors  who  picked  it  up,  knowing  whose  it  was,  was  incited  from  mo- 
tives of  revenge  to  destroy  it.  Harry,  who  was  upon  the  deck  at  the 
time,  remonstrated  strongly  against  this  proceeding,  but  the  fellow,  deaf 
to  his  expostulations,  threw  the  pocket-book  overboard.  Harry,  with 
the  most  generous  heioism,  immediately  plunged  over  the  side  of  the 
vessel,  and  caught  it  ere  it  sunk,  and  was  hauled  once  more  upon  deck, 
just  as  the  captain  came  up,  and  demanded  the  cause  of  the  noise. 
Harry  briefly  informed  him,  and  placed  the  pocket-book  in  his  hands. 
At  that  instant  Lieutenant  Carr  returned  to  the  deck,  in  a  state  of 
distraction  at  his  loss,  which  he  asserted  would  ruin  him.     Observing 


42  TOM   TRUCK  ;    OB, 

a  smile  upon  Harry's  counteDance,  he  immediately  conjectured  tbat  hb 
was  exulting  in  his  misfortune,  and  in  a  moment  accused  him  of  having 
stolen  it.  The  honest  tar  spurned  the  accusation  with  becoming  indig- 
nation, which  so  enraged  the  lieutenant,  that  he  would  have  struck  him 
had  not  the  captain  interposed. 

"  Hold,  sir,  I  command  you,  on  pain  of  my  displeasure,"  he  said: 
"  would  you  strike  one  of  the  best  of  fellows  that  ever  trod  a  plank  1 
You  dropped  your  pocket-book  upon  deck." 

"  Ah  !"  eagerly  ejaculated  the  lieutenant,  "  has  it  been  found  ?" 

"  One  of  the  crew,"  continued  the  captain,  "  threw  the  pocket-book 
overboard." 

"  Then  I  am  ruined  for  ever,"  said  the  lieutenant,  in  despair. 

"  Hear  me  out,  sir,"  resumed  the  captain  ;  "  your  pocket-book  would 
have  been  lost  had  it  not  been  for  the  heroic  conduct  of  another  of  the 
crew,  who,  at  the  imminent  hazard  of  his  own  life,  plunged  in  after  it, 
and  snatched  it  from  the  waves.     It  is  here,  sir." 

"  Heaven  be  praised,"  ejaculated  the  lieutenant,  "  I  am  saved  from 
worse  than  death.  But  oh,  captain,  tell  me  to  whom  I  am  indebted  1 
Who  is  this  generous  man  ?" 

"  Behold  him  before  you,"  answered  the  captain,  pointing  to  Harry; 
"  the  man  whom  you  so  hastily  injured  by  doubting  his  honesty." 

Shame  filled  the  bosom  of  the  lieutenant,  and  prevented  him  from 
speaking  for  a  few  minutes  ;  but  gratitude  at  length  found  vent  in  the 
following  words  to  Harry  : 

"  Generous,  noble  fellow  ;  oh,  tell  me,  how  can  I  ever  repay  you 
for  the  injury  I  have  ofi"ered  to  you.  .  Here  are  my  hands  ;  one  con- 
tains a  purse,  the  other  the  oifer  of  my  dearest  friendship — take  them 
— they  are  both  yours,  and  grant  me  your  pardcn  for  my  rash  asser- 
tions." 

"  Oh,  your  honor,"  said  Harry,  snatching  the  empty  hand  of  the 
oflBcer,  and  gently  spurning  the  one  which  contained  tlie  gold,  ''  this 
kindness  more  than  repays  me  for  the  service  I  have  been  so  fortunate 
as  to  render.  Freely  do  I  accept  this,  but  offer  me  not  the  other,  for  I 
should  feel  myself  to  be  unworthy  the  name  of  a  British  seaman  if  I 
accepted  it." 

Harry  fervently  pressed  the  hand  of  the -lieutenant  to  his  heart,  and 
every  one  on  deck  could  not  but  express  their  unqualified  admiration 
of  the  noble  conduct  he  had  evinced.  From  that  day  the  lieutenant 
became  an  altered  man  ;  he  had  been  taught  a  salutary  lesson  ;  ho 
profited  by  it,  and  soon  became  as  much  esteemed  as  he  had  been  before 
bated  and  despised. 


THE    WIZAED   CREW.  4f^ 

Just  after  this  occurrence,  a  letter  was  put  ioto  Harry's  baud,  which, 
on  opening  it,  he  found  to  be  from  his  old  friend,  Ben  Blaze.  Judge  bia 
feelings,  on  reading  the  contents,  to  Icaru  that  his  beloved  Pauliuia  had 
been  at  the  inn  at  the  same  time  that  he  was,  and  that  slie  had,  with 
her  son,  departed  for  London  at  the  very  time  when  he  entered  the  boat 
to  go  to  the  vessel.  Harry  was  distracted  at  this  letter,  bat  the  more 
80,  when  he  learned  that  she  had  been  inveigled  into  the  society  of 
Lawyer  Twister.  Ben  regretted  that  he  had  not  discovered  these  facts 
until  the  coach  had  started,  but  he  assured  Harry  that  he  would  imme- 
diately go  to  London,  and  on  finding  out  his  wife,  inform  her  of  every- 
thing, and  frustrate  the  wicked  designs  of  the  lawyer. 

The  anguish  of  Harry  at  the  letter  was  unspeakable  ;  but,  after  ha 
had  in  some  measure  composed  his  feelings,  he  uttered  a  prayey  to 
Heaven  for  the  safety  of  his  wife  and  child,  and  was  compelled  to  en- 
deavor to  content  himself  by  hoping  for  happier  times  ;  and  he  was  also 
not  without  a  hope  that  Paulinia,  having  been  informed  by  Ben  of  these 
facts,  would  lose  no  time  in  returning  to  Carlscroom,  and  might  even 
arrive  there  almost  as  soon  as  himself 

Nothing  particular  happened,  the  vessel  soon  stopped  at  Carlscroom, 
and  with  a  light  and  anxious  heart,  Harry  tripped  on  shore.  He  had 
now  brought  his  mind  to  calm  and  hope ;  he  could  not  but  think  he 
ehould  find  Paulinia  and  his  child  here,  and  he  formed  the  most  delight- 
ful  anticipations  of  the  happiness  that  awaited  him.  He  soon  arrived 
at  the  cottage  of  his  father-in-law  ;  it  was  nearly  six  years  since  he  had 
seen  it,  but  it  looked  the  same  abode  of  peace  as  when  he  had  left  it. 
Harry's  heart  throbbed  violently,  and  hope,  fear,  and  anxiety  pre- 
dominated by  turns  in  his  bosom.  At  length  he  determined  to  knock 
at  the  door ;  but,  just  as  he  was  about  to  do  so,  he  beheld  two  ruffianly- 
looking  fellows,  enveloped  in  cloaks  and  armed,  approaching  that  way. 
From  their  manner,  he  suspected  they  were  after  no  good,  and,  conceal- 
ing himself  behind  a  tree  that  grew  by  the  side  of  the  cottage,  he 
resolved  to  watch  their  actions.  It  was  not  long  ere  he  discovered  from 
the  conversation  of  the  villains  that  they  had  formed  a  plan  to  rob  the 
old  man,  and  he  blessed  that  Providence  which  had  guided  his  footsteps 
to  the  place  at  so  critical  a  moment. 

The  fellows  having  drawn  their  swords,  burst  into  the  cottage  door, 
and  entered,  and  Harry  cautiously  followed  on  his  hands  and  knees. 
On  entering  the  cottage,  he  beheld  his  father-in-law  seated  in  his  old 
arm-chair  by  the  side  of  the  table.  He  did  not  hear  the  villains  ap 
proach  him,  and  Harry  succeeded  in  gaining  the  back  of  the  chair 
\>ehind  which  he  concealed  himself. 


4i  roM  TRUCK  ;  (je, 

The  ruffians,  with  many  oaths  and  threats,  demanding  the  old  man'l 
money,  rushed  upon  him  with  their  weapons,  which  they  were  about  to 
plunge  into  his  body,  when  Harry,  to  their  fear  and  confusion,  jumped 
up  from  behind  the  chair,  with  a  pistol  in  each  hand. 

Completely  dismayed,  they  tooli  to  immediate  flight,  and  our  hero 
revealed  himself  to  his  father-in-law.  The  old  man  was  greatly  aston- 
ished at  the  return  of  Harry,  after  so  long  an  absence  ;  but  to  his  eager 
inquiries  as  to  where  his  wife  was,  Wa'kman  replied,  in  reproachful 
tones,  that  she  had  gone  to  England  in  search  of  that  husband  who  had 
deserted  her. 

'•  Deserted  her  !"  repeated  Harry,  most  vehemently,  and  beating  his 
brow,  "  oh  how  you  wrong  me  !  What !  desert  my  pretty,  my  beloved 
bride  ;  accursed  be  the  thought !" 

'  .  Harry  then  explained  to  the  old  man  the  cause  of  his  mysterious 
absence — the  intelligence  he  had  received  from  Ben  Blaze,  and  added, 
that  having  purchased  his  discharge,  he  would  return  immediately  to 
England  in  the  first  ship,  and  never  rest  until  he  had  found  out  poor 
Pauliuia  and  his  child,  and  restored  them  safe  to  Walkman,  or  perish 
in  the  attempt. 

Our  hero  was  as  good  as  his  word,  and  in  less  than  another  week 
was  on  his  voyage  back  to  England. 

We  must  now  return  to  Paulinia,  whom  we  left  in  the  Tally  Ho 
p-oach,  going  to  Loudon,  in  the  company  of  the  villain  Twister.  Unsus- 
pecting as  Paulinia  was,  the  lawyer  found  it  no  difficult  matter  to  effect 
the  object  he  wished.  By  a  specious  tale  he  inveigled  her  to  the  house 
of  Lord  Ilestless,  whom  he  made  acquainted  with  every  particular  of 
her  circumstances.  His  lordship  was  delighted  with  the  charms  of 
Paulinia,  and  was  determined  that  she  should  be  his,  at  all  hazards. 
What  was  Paulinia's  surprise  and  disgust,  then,  to  find  that  she  waa 
made  a  prisoner  in  the  mansion  of  that  nobleman  ;  and  when  her  ears 
were  insulted  by  a  declaration  of  his  odious  passion,  she  spurned  him, 
as  his  baseness  merited.  But  Lord  Restless  was  not  to  be  so  easily 
abashed  ;  and  for  months  he  kept  her  confined  in  his  house,  and  daily 
insulted  her  by  his  base  proposals  and  importunities.  He  endeavored 
to  convince  her  that  her  husband  was  no  more  ;  offered  to  become  a 
protector  to  her  boy,  and  sought  to  prevail  upon  her,  by  a  false  mar- 
riage, to  yield  to  his  desires.  Finding  that  the  virtue  of  Paulinia  was 
proof  against  all  his  arts,  he  became  impatient,  and  told  her  he  would 
only  allow  her  one  day  more  to  consider,  and  if  she  then  remained 
obstinate,  he  would  use  force  to  make  her  comply. 

The  anguish  of  Paulinia  may  be  easily  conceived  ;  her  only  consolation 


THE   WIZAKD   CREW.  45 

was  in  tbe  society  of  a  female  domestic,  one  Sally  Manders,  who  had 
formerly  lived  at  the  Fire-ship  inn,  and  knew  Harry  well.  She  assured 
Pauliiiia  of  the  existence  of  her  husband,  and  informed  her  of  every 
particular  of  his  having  gone  to  Calscroom  in  search  of  her,  on  the 
same  day  that  she  departed  to  London,  and  added,  tliat  she  felt  con- 
vinced Harry  would  lose  no  time  in  returning  to  England,  in  the  hopo 
of  regaining  her.  At  the  same  time,  she  said  she  would  be  most  zeal- 
ous in  watching  vessels  returning ;  and  if  she  could  meet  with  Harry, 
she  would  invent  some  stratagem  by  which  she  miglit  easily  be  released 
from  the  power  of  the  hated  Lord  Restless,  and  restored  to  her  long- 
lost  husband. 

This  assurance  somewhat  consoled  Paulinia ;  but,  when  the  time  drew 
on  apace,  and  Sally  could  obtain  no  information  of  Harry,  despair  began 
to  take  entire  possession  of  her  mind. 

It  so  occurred,  on  the  very  day  our  hero  returned  to  London,  that 
Sally  had  been  on  her  usual  errand,  when,  on  returning  back  over 
London  bridge,  she  met  the  very  object  of  her  search.  This  unexpected 
meeting  was  a  source  of  great  delight  to  both  ;  but  when  Harry  heard 
of  the  sufferings  of  his  wife,  and  the  danger  she  was  at  that  time  placed 
in,  his  bosom  swelled  with  honest  indignation,  and  he  vowed  that  he 
would  instantly  repair  to  Lord  Restless,  pull  his  house  about  his  ears, 
and  hang  him  on  the  first  lamp-post.  Sally,  however,  implored  him  to 
calm  his  feelings,  and  patiently  to  act  tlie  part  she  had  directed.  She 
then  informed  him  that  she  had  formed  a  plot  to  introduce  him  to  the 
house  as  her  cousin  and  the  messmate  of  Harry  Steerwell,  whom  he  was 
to  represent  as  dead  ;  and  having  a  number  of  companions  near  the 
spot,  wliile  he  was  keeping  his  lordship  engaged  with  this  tale,  she 
would  admit  them  into  the  house,  when  they  might  secure  the  villain, 
and  liberate  Paulinia  and  her  child  from  his  power. 

Harry  highly  approved  of  this  plot,  and  he  and  the  delighted  Sally 
instantly  departed  to  put  it  into  execution. 

Harry  was  quickly  ushered  into  the  house,  and,  in  the  course  of  a 
short  time,  his  boy  was  brought  to  him  by  Sally.  With  what  rapture 
did  the  honest  tar  hug  his  little  son  to  his  heart,  and  press  upon  his 
rosy  cheeks  the  kisses  of  parental  love.  The  little  Henry  recognized 
him  as  the  sailor  who  had  formerly  presented  him  with  the  silver  whis- 
tle at  Queenborough,  and  showed  his  father  how  carefully  he  had  pre- 
served it.  Harry  almost  smothered  him  with  kisses  ;  and,  while  he  was 
thus  engaged,  Lord  Restless  entered  the  apartment. 

As  may  well  be  imagined,  he  was  greatly  surprised  at  the  appearanca 
of  a  seaman  in  his  house,  and  tho  particular  notice  he  was  taking  of  the 


46  TOM   TRUCK  ;    OK, 

child  of  Paulinia,  ^nd  asked  him  who  he  was,  and  what  purpose  t&d 
brought  him  there. 

Harry  could  scarcely  repress  his  passion,  when  he  beheld  before  him 
the  villain  who  had  so  deeply  injured  him,  and'  persecuted  his  lovely 
wife.  His  bosom  swelled  with  indignation  ;  a  flush  passed  over  his 
countenance  as  he  bit  his  lips,  but  recollecting  Limself,  lie  assumed  a 
modest  demeanour,  and  apologizing  to  his  lordship,  informed  him  that 
he  was  Sally's  cousin,  just  returned  from  sea  in  the  Insolent. 

"  Ah  !"  exclaimed  Lord  Restless,  "  the  Insolent — did  you  know  there 
one  Harry  Steerwell  ?" 

"  Know  him,  your  honor,"  answered  the  hero,  "  to  be  sure  I  did  ;  poor 
fellow  !  he's  gone  aloft." 

"How  !  what  mean  you?"  hastily  inquired  the  libertine. 

"  Why,  your  honor,  he's  dead,"  replied  Harry. 

"  Dead  !"  repeated  Lord  Restless,  catching  eagerly  at  the  welcome 
words  ;  "  are  you  certain  of  that  ?" 

"  Yes,  your  honor,"  returned  Harry  ;  "  it  was  my  painful  duty  to  see 
him  consigned  to  his  last  home." 

"  Ah  !  by  Heaven,  that  is  a  fortunate  circumstance  !"  ejaculated  Lord 
Restless,  aside  ;  then  turning  to  Harry,  and  addressing  him,  he  added, 
"  Did  you  know  the  late  Henry  SteerweU's  wife  ?" 

"  Ay,  to  be  sure  I  did.  your  honor,"  answered  our  hero,  "  and  a 
pretty  little  craft  she  was — a  finer  never  ploughed  the  ocean  of  life." 

"  Circumstances,"  said  the  libertine,  "  have  placed  her  beneath  my 
roof,  and — but,  no  matter ;  all  I  wish  you  to  do,  is  to  see  her,  and  make 
her  acquainted  with  her  husband's  death,  as  I  wish  to  provide  for  hei 
and  her  child  and  as  a  reward  for  this  service,  take  this  purse." 

Harry  took  the  purse  with  a  very  ill  grace,  but.  to  effect  his  purpose, 
it  was  necessary  he  should  act  up  to  the  character  he  had  assumed  ; 
Lord  Restless  shortly  afterwards  took  his  leave,  and  scarcely  had  ho 
quitted  the  room,  when  a  piercing  shriek  rent  the  air,  and  the  bride  of 
the  Baltic  was  pressed  to  the  bosom  of  her  husband. 

We  must  draw  a  veil  over  this  affectionate  scene,  for  we  are  certain 
that  no  eloquence  could  do  justice  to  it ;  the  little  Henry  alternately 
sharing  the  joyful  caresses  of  his  father  with  his  mothei*.  Their 
emotion  having  somewhat  subsided,  a  mutual  explanation  followed, 
and  Paulinia  eagerly  inquired  if  he  had  brought  back  to  her  the 
^parting  kiss  as  pure  as  when  zhe  gave  it  f"  With  a  teujer  embrace 
Harry  replied  in  the  affirmative,  and  tnight  have  added,  in  the  words  of 
the  ballad  : 


THH   WIZAED   CKEW.  4"!" 

"  In  toil  and  battio  fire  long  yean 
I  did  a  seaman's  duty  ; 
When  pleasure  called,  I  closed  mj  ean 
And  turned  my  eyes  from  beauty. 
*    The  wanton's  tale  of  boasted  blisa 
I  heard,  but  ne'er  believed  it ; 
So  back  I've  brought  that  Parting  Kiss, 
As  pure  as  I  received  it." 

Thus  happily  explained,  they  were  continuing  to  converse  of  pasi 
joys,  and  forming  the  most  blissful  anticipations  of  the  future,  when 
Lord  Restless  entered,  and  addressing  himself  to  Paulinia,  pretended 
to  endeavor  to  console  her  for  the  loss  of  her  husband ;  and  while  he 
Teas  doing  so,  Sally  took  the  opportunity  of  whispering  in  Harry's  ear 
that  his  messmates  were  then  in  the  house,  and  only  waited  a  signal  from 
him  to  rush  in  and  seize  his  lordship. 

EJarry  winked  at  her  significantly,  and  at  that  moment  Lord  Restless 
requested  him  to  give  an  account  of  the  manner  in  which  Harry  Steer 
well  had  met  his  death. 

"  Why,  you  see,  yer  honor,"  said  Harry,  "  my  poor  messmate  was  a 
most  venturesome  chap.  So,  one  day,  he  would  go  ashore  among  the 
savages.  The  chief  was  a  tall  man,  summut  like  you,  may  be  yer  honor 
and  he  was  determined  to  take  poor  Harry's  life ;  so  he  raised  his  club, 
when  at  that  moment  Harry  perceived  some  of  his  messmates  at  hand." 
All  this  time  Harry  was  beckoning  on  his  companions,  who  entered  the 
room  unperceived  by  Lord  Restless,  and  stood  behind,  ready  to  pounce 
upon  him. 

"  Well,"  continued  Harry,  "  as  I  was  saying,  your  honor,  Harry  ad- 
vanced to  the  chief  as  I  might  do  to  you,  and  placing  a  pistol  to  his 
head,  as  I  might  do  to  you,  he  said  : 

" '  You  d d  scoundrel  P  " 

Surprised  at  the  emphasis  with  which  Harry  uttered  these  words, 
and  his  actually  placing  a  pistol  to  his  head,  he  was  about  to  ask  for  an 
explanation,  when  he  perceived  himself  surrounded  by  about  twenty 
well-armed  sailors.  The  whole  was  now  explained,  for  Harry  rushed 
to  the  arms  of  his  wife. 

Shame  and  confusion  overwhelmed  his  lordship  ;  he  threw  himself  at 
the  feet  of  Harry  and  his  wife,  imploring  their  forgiveness.  Harry, 
with  his  usual  generosity,  acceded  to  his  request ;  nor  was  Lord  Rest- 
less worse  than  his  word  ;  he  gave  them  wealth  j  and  never  a  happiei 
couple  returned  to  the  home  from  wh'ch  they  had  been  so  cruelly  torn, 
than  did  honest  Harry  Steerwell  an(?  b*  •  ^e»u>-*ou8  Paulinia,  the  Bridt 
tflhe  Baltic 


18  roM  TRUCK  ;  or, 

"  Well,  Lieutenant,"  said  Truck,  "  that  aren't  so  bad  ;  but  blast  my 
eyes,  if  I  would  have  let  that  devil  of  a  Lord  Restless  off  so  cheaply  I 
He  deserved  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  a  gang  of  cut-throats  and  robber*), 
and  be  compelled  to  live  in  momentary  expectafKon  of  death  for  a 
month  or  so—- the  libidinous  old  scoundrel !" 

How  long  Truck  and  the  Lieutenant  might  have  diverted  themselvea 
with  narrations  like  the  foregoing  none  can  say,  but  the  sailor's  watch 
tfnf,  a^ejj  %ud  they  returned  to  duty. 


THE    WIZAKD   CKEW.  40 


BOOK    II. 


CHAPTER    I. 

THE    PIRATE    SHIP. 

The  scene  changes,  and  the  reader  is  tranported  to  the  deck  of  ths 
unknown  schooner. which  lay  beyond  the  long,  low  point  of  land  forming 
the  harbor  of  Santiago.  The  crew  had  not  tlie  trim,  regular  air  of  dis- 
cipline which  characterized  that  of  the  "  Wizard  of  the  Wave,"  but  yet 
had  the  air  of  strict  obedience  and  of  as  much  good  order  as  could 
exist  among  any  men  who  were  not  restrained  by  the  sanction  of  positive 
iaw.  They  were  clean,  neat,  and  went  through  their  duty  with  an 
alacrity  which  would  have  done  credit  to  men  in  regular  service.  At 
the  time  our  scene  opens,  they  were  busied,  under  Weevil's  direction, 
in  lowering  into  the  hold  a  number  of  strongly-clasped  boxes,  appa- 
rently of  great  weight — while  Tom  Truck,  heavily  ironed,  sat  looking 
on,  with  the  philosophy  which  marks  the  old  sailor  in  all  conditions, 
when  he  sees  himself  powerless.  Truck  seemed  as  quiet  and  con- 
tented as  if  he  sat  on  the  deck  of  his  own  darling  Wizard,  instead  of 
the  Melchor,  a  piratical  schooner  ;  but  one  who  could  look  into  big 
mind,  would  sec  that  was  anything  but  the  case  ;  for  though  he  said 
nothing,  as  he  would  probably  have  expressed  it  himself,  he  was  doing 
an  immensity  of  thinking. 

An  old  quadroon  slave,  the  name  of  whom  was  Nanny,  sat  sewing  on 
a  low  stocl  near  the  hatchway  of  the  vessel,  devoted  evidently  to  her 
work  alone.  The  name  of  the  vessel  to  which  not  only  Tom  Truck  but 
our  readers  have  been  transported,  was  the  Melchor,  or  the  Evil  One  ; 
andj  unless  old  stories  be  all  false,  richly  merited  the  appellation. 

The  man-of-war's  man  wears  no  weapons  about  his  person.  In  regu- 
lar vessels,  pistols  and  cutlasses  rest  quietly  in  their  racks,  never  to  be 
taken  down  except  to  be  used,  and  the  dagger  is  a  thing  unknown. 
He  who  wore  such  a  weapon  would  be  esteemed  a  coward  indeed ;  but 
tuch  was  not  ibr  case  with  the  crew  tf  the  Melchor,  each  of  whom  ap- 


^)0  roM  TRUCK  ;  or, 

pcarcd  to  look  on  his  comrade  as  his  bitterest  foe.  A  pistol  and  dag. 
gcr  were  in  every  belt,  as  if  the  enemy  were  momentarily  expected. 

"  Yo  !  hcaye  !  ho !"  sang  the  sailors  on  the  deck. 

"  Yo  I  ho !"  was  echoed  by  those  below,  as  box  after  box  descended. 

'' Cle&r  away,  ho!"  said  Weevil;  "be  lively!  I  hate  dead  game,  as 
the  snake  said  to  the  buffalo,  when  he  had  made  a  carcase  of  him.  Be 
lively !" 

"  Aye,  aye  !"  replied  a  voice  from  below. 

Again  and  again  the  clues  ran  up  and  down ;  and  box  after  box 
having  descended.  Truck  took  his  pipe  from  his  mouth,  and  said,  after 
singing  a  bar  or  two  of  a  nautical  refrain : 

'•  You  seem.  Master  Weevil,  to  have  some  heavy  ballast  there." 

"  Aha !  you  have  logged  my  name !  Why,  yes,  Master  Coxwain, 
you  see  we  hiave  to  clap  a  pig  or  two  of  ballast  on  light-heeled  craft, 
just  to  steady  them.  You  see.  we  had  to  do  as  much  for  you.  They 
then  mind  their  helm  better." 

As  the  rascal  spoke,  he  pointed  significantly  to  Truck's  irons. 

"  Ah  !"  said  Truck,  "you  are  cute  ;  and  I  take  it  your  mother  was  a 
woman.  I  will,  however,  say  this,  that  your  vessel  i?  a  credit  to  her 
build,  and  her  keepers  are  no  fresh  water  jacks,  but  regular  salt  dogs. 
Bless  my  eyes !  she  is  clean  as  a  woman  at  a  fair." 

The  old  quadroon  had  been  for  some  time  watching  the  boxes  descend, 
and  finally  spoke: 

"  Weevil,"  said  she,  "  tell  me  if  more  gold  is  coming  on  boaad  ?" 

'•  Hush,  I  tell  you  I"  said  Weevil. 

Nanny  spoke  in  a  half  whisper,  and  said  : 

"  I  will  not!  Enough  has  come  on  board  to  buy  a  kingdom — and  it 
is  his — all  his." 

"  Hold  your  tongue,  I  tall  you,  for  there  will  be  enough  for  all." 

"  I  tell  you,  Weevil,  it  nhall  be  his.  only  his.  The  oath  binds  me,  but 
it  shall  be  his,  for  he  has  been  kind  to  old  Nanny.  We  would  give  all, 
all  to  know ;  yet  I  dare  not  tell  him." 

"  Ah  !"  said  Truck,  '•  Mr.  Belford  was  not  far  wrong,  and  they  have 

been  robbing  the   mines.     Master  Weevil,  now  be  civil,  and  just  cut  a 

brother  tar  loose   from  these   lashings,  for  they  are  not  so  comfortable 

as  a  silk  stocking,  for  a  gentleman  at  ray  time  of  life.     D n  it,  man, 

I  never  could  bear  the  bilboes. 

"  '  There  she  lay,  all  that  day, 
In  the  Bay  of  Biscay-o  '  " 

For  a  sailor  will  sing  even  during  an  amputation. 
*'  Shipmate,"  said  Weevil,  "  do  you  remember  what  was  said  to  you  1' 


THE   WIZARD   CEEW.  &i 

"Whftt!'*  said  Truck,  stopping  his  song.  "  Do  I  remember?  How 
the  devi!  am  I  to  forget  ?    No,  I  won't ;  I  do  not  like  the  service." 

"  When  once  you  put  foot  on  this  deck,  you  must  either  join  us  or 
feed  the  fishes."  ♦ 

"  What  ?"  said  Truck,  '•  do  you  think  I  am  such  a  fool  as  to  walk 
overboard  ?     My  eyes  !  I  believe  you  are  a  set  of  d d  pirates  !" 

The  old  quadroon,  who  had  for  sometime  uttered  not  a  word,  screamed 
in  agony,  and  like  a  Pythonel  full  of  inspiration,  exclaimed  : 

"  Pirates  !  whoever  talked  of  the  black  flag?  I  have  seen  him  nail 
it  to  his  mast-head,  and  whoever  tore  it  down?  Walk  the  plank!  I 
have  seen  it  done  by  the  timid  and  the  brave  oft  and  oft — by  the  blue- 
eyed  American — by  the  dark-haired  Spaniard — by  the  Portuguese — he 
who  tried  to  burn  his  ship.  Do  yoii  remember.  Weevil,  who  fired  that 
pistol  and  shot  him,  as  he  knelt  and  prayed  to  Almighty  God?" 

Weevil  alternatety  flushed  and  became  pale.     He  exclaimed,  at  last : 

"Stop  that  old  devil  mother's  chronicle  of  blood  !  I  wonder  she  haa 
n^ver  been  shipped  as  an  old  croaker  for  the  shark's  maw  below  them." 

"  No,  no,  no  !"  said  the  old  woman  ;  "  he  hopes,  before  the  old  nurse 
dies,  that  she  will  break  her  oath,  and  tell  him  who  he  i.s — well,  they 
made  me  guilty — ha,  ha!  the  gold,  the  gold,  all  his  P^ — and  the  old 
woman  continued  to  mutter  on,  moodily,  to  herself 

Weevil  said  to  the  watch,  "  Keep  a  sharp  look  oat,  lads,  for  I  expect 
visitors  aboard.  Harkee,  reship  that  fellow's  ground  tackle,  for  time 
is  up,  and  I  would  not  like  the  skipper  to  find  liira  here." 

They  released  Truck,  who  continued  to  smoke  calmly  as  usual,  and 
said  : 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do  with  me,  you  lascar-lookiug  black- 
guards ?" 

"  A  very  few  minutes,"  said  Weevil,  "  will  decide  that.  Will  you 
join  us  ?" 

"What,  fight  with  such  a  Peter-boat  robbing  crew  !  What,  disgrace 
the  flag  under  which  I  was  born,  and  under  which  I  was  edicated  ! 
Turn  mine-robber  !     No,  I'll  be  d d  if  I  do  !" 

"  Mine-robber  !"  exclaimed  Weevil,  lashed  into  fury ;  "  rig  the  plank 
there,  for  over  he  shall  go,  ballasted  as  he  is." 

He  was  placed  over  the  side  of  the  vessel,  and  Truck  looked  on, 
smoking  as  quietly  as  possible. 

Weevil  said  to  him,  "  Once  more  T  ask  you  if  you  will  join  me.  I 
would  not  care  any  more  for  drowning  a  set  of  land-lubbers,  than  I 
would  a  parcel  of  blind  kittens.  When,  though,  a  man  has  served  his 
time  at  sea  and  learned  to  know  its  signs,  it  is  a  shame  that  old  Ocean 


52  TOM    TKUCK  ;    OK, 

should  be  his  executioner.  It  is  disgracing  the  high  road  he  lives  by_ 
and  tacking  a  disgrace  to  the  end  of  one's  best  friend. 

Truck  said  to  him,  in  a  somewhat  milder  tone :  "  You  liave  but  a 
queer-looking  title-page  in  that  black  mug  of  jours,  but  there  is  some 
logic  inside  of  you.  Your  speech  shows  extraordinary  edication  !  I 
wish  I  had  you  bound  for  my  private  library  !" 

«  Will  you  join  ?" 

*•  Never !"  said  Truck,  "but  I  will  give  you  a  bit  of  advice.  Just 
practice  what  you  preach,  and  take  the  drowning  kittens  for  your  test. 
Remember  you  have  no  right  to  clap  the  mop  on  the  poor,  struggling 
'ireatures  ;  and  when  a  gentleman  like  me  comes  on  board  your  bloody 
'Sraft,  leave  him  a  few  moments  to  himself,  to  have  a  signal  for  bis  soul's 
salvation,  and  remember  his  poor  old  mother  at  home,  without  hia 
being  obliged  to  blubber  like  a  baby  before  blackguards." 

Weevil  and  the  crew  retired,  and  Truck  leaned  against  the  mast, 
while  the  old  quadroon,  who  had  shifted  her  seat,  was  immediately  be- 
hind him  His  face  he  had  leaned  to  the  mast,  as  if  to  hide  his  feel- 
ings. 

"  Do  not  turn,"  said  the  old  woman ;  '•  do  not  notice  me.  but  listen  : 
appear  to  consent  to  join  them." 

'•If  I  do,  I  am  d d,"  said  the  bluff  coxswain. 

"  Fool !  you  will  then  deserve  death.  There  may  be  means — I  may 
enable  you  to  escape." 

"You  are  a  kind  old  mother,  but " 

"  Do  not  call  me  mother  ;  your  speaking  of  your  mother  at  home 
made  me  pity  you.  I  saw  one  mother  when  her  children  were  torn 
from  her,  and  since  then  I  h'.ve  ever  trembled  at  the  word." 

Truck  paused  in  thought,  and  said,  inwardly:  ••  Sliall  I  do  this.  No, 
'tis  but  a  plunge,  a  few  moments  before  my  time,  in  what  I  always 
thought  would  be  my  grave.  Messmates,  farewell  ! — I — mother — hang 
it,  let  me  be  a  man  !  Hark  ye,  you  shark's  fry,  I'm  ready  for  my  moon- 
light walk  ;  but  take  my  word  for  it,  the  ghost  of  Tom  Truck  will  stick 
to  this  craft  like  a  barnacle,  till  every  lubber  of  her  crew  is  hung  dang- 
ling in  the  wind,  like  shirts  on  a  washing  day." 

Weevil  became  angry,  and  shouted,  "  Away  to  your  fate  !" 

The  crew  presented  their  pistols;  but  Truck,  notliing  intimidated, 
folded  his  arms  and  confronted  them. 

"  Fire  away,  you  devil's  imps  !"  said  he  ;  "  but  you  dare  not — you 
would  then  have  a  few  honest  men  around  you,  before  you  could  cut 
the  cable  of  your  rascally  kedge.  Pirates  !  robbers  I  Old  Nick  will 
Bome  day  seize  you  all  up  to  his  red-hot  gratings." 


THE   WIZAKD   CREW.  53 

The  pirates  drew  their  knives  and  collected  around  him,  while  Truck 
mounted  tlie  board. 

Truck  continued,  "  Could  I  just  take  you  one  by  one "     He 

threw  his  pipe  overboard,  and  said:  "There,  I  have  taken  my  last 
whiff.  I'm  ready  !  Mother,  I  come  !  Farewell,  blue  sky,  friends,  and 
life !" 

He  walked  up  the  board,  and  when  he  had  reached  the  gunwale, 
kicked  the  board  from  beneath  hira,  exclaiming: 

"  Take  that,  you  lubbers,  for  I  can  die  like  a  man  I" 

The  stout  old  sailor  sprang  overboard  ;  and  wken.  he  had  done  so.  a. 
cry  arose  from  below,  coming  from  many  voices.:; 

"  Yo  ho,  there,  schooner  !" 

The  watch  answered,  "  Gig  alongside  !"^ 

"  Gig  ho  !"  said  Weevil.     "  Is  it  the  skipper  V* 

"  A  voice  was  heard  to  cry,  "  A  prisoner." 

•'  Weevil  said,  moodily,  "  More  prisoners  ! — this  is  strange  T 

The  boat's  crew,  dressed  neatly  in  white,  ascended  the  compamoD'- 
way,  passing  up  belore  thom  our  old  friend  Belford,  with  his  arms  pin- 
ioned and  eyes  blindfolded. .  He  was  under  the  especial  charge  of  a. 
ferocious-looking  fellow,  named  Wilkins,  who  will  turn  out  to  be  the^ 
quarter-mastef  of  the  Melchor. 

Wilkins  said  to  Weevil,  "  The  captain  gave  this  gentleman  a  free- 
passage,  and  told  me  to  tie  and  blindfold  him.  What  the  devil,  though, 
were  you  throwing  overboard  ?  Yo'i  came  near  swamping  us,  and 
breaking  Kit  Cathead's  neck  ;  besides,  j^ou  nearly  knocked  the  fellow's, 
life  out  of  him.     Hand  up  tha*^  'ubter  that  fell  overboard,  some  of  you." 

The  old  coxswain  was  haiiit-d  up,  and  Weevil  looked  at  him  and 
said,  "  So  the  poor  devil  is  ^ot  to  be  drowned  then  ?" 

"  Why,  for  the  matttc  of  that,"  said  the  quarter-master,  "  two  or  three; 
of  us  wish  he  wer'^  for  his  irons  played  the  devil  with  us.  Look  to. 
your  prisoner,  for  the  captain  will  soon  be  here,  and  with  him  such  a 
beauty  ! — his  prize.  She  is  the  governor's  daughter — she  is  the  cai- 
tain's  prize." 

Belford,  bursting  with  rage,  exclaimed,  "  Liar!" 

Wilkins  said,  coolly,  "  Talk  on,  sir,  for  it  is  all  you  will  ever  be  able 
to  do.     Gidho!" 

The  captain's  reply,  "  Ay,  ay  !"  was  heard. 

Wilkins  said  to  some  of  the  crew,  as  he  hurried  to  the  side,  "  Look; 
to  the  offieer." 

Weevil  removed  the  bandage  from  Belford's  eyes,  who  looked  aii»> 
io'u)y  around,  and  said  *. 

4 


54  TOM   TBUCK  j    ORj 

"  Where  am  I  7 — on  board  >f  the  schoonei  ? 

"  You  are  right." 

"  Do  you  command  her  ?  Why  did  Capt.  Falkner  63td  mo  Oil  boftrd 
ef  her  ?" 

«  Captain  Falkner  ?" 

"■  Ay,  Capt.  Falkner  !  I  thought  hfm  almost  killed,  and  the  next 
motnent  find  him  on  board  his  own  ship,  dressed  in  the  most  fantastic 
manner.  At  a  signal,  he  calls  his  gig  to  the  ship's  side,  and  sends  rac 
on  service  ashore.  Before  I  have  recovered  from  my  wonder,  I  find 
myself  seized  and  blindfolded,  and,  to  increase  my  surprise,  am  brought 
hither  a  prisoner. 

Weevil  look'id  strangely  at  hira,  and  said  : 

You  must  be  dreaming.  "  Do  you  know  the  nature  of  the  vessel 
you  are  on." 

"  I  can  guess,  from  that  poor  fellow's  state,  that  you  are  pirates." 

-^'  We  are,"  said  Weevil — "  throw  water  on  that  poor  devil ;  he  ifl 

iiBtuODAd." 

;^^\£ord  hastened  to  Truck,  and  lifting  him  up,  said  ;  "  Not  dead — 
.only  stunaed." 

jTruck  reeoyered,  and  said  :  "  My  head  !  my  head  !  Well,  drowning 
makes  a  fellow's  head  swim.  Lord  !  Lord  I  yet  here  ! — your  honor, 
too  !     Have  the  bloodsuckers  got  you  ?" 

Belford  said,  in  a.  musing  manner,  "  There  can  be  no  mistake.  I 
struck,  hi,m  down,  buit  I  saw  him  on  her  deck — the  same  face,  the  same 
gold  chain.     ,Alas,  ,i  am  afraid  the  man  I  honored  so  is  a  villain  1" 

Truck  said  :  "A  villain?  He  is  the  devil !  So  he  sent  you  on  board 
this  murder-tub  ?" 

Weevil  bade  him  be  silent-^-"  Peace,  fool  !" 

"  I  will  not ;.  what  do  I  care  for  you — a  d d  salt-water  burglar  I" 

"  Schooner  ahoy  !"  was  lie^rd  from  below. 

^'  Boat  ho  !"  answered  Weevil. 

f-  The  captain  1"  was  the  rejoijider. 

"  The  skipper  !"  said  old  Tom.  "  Now  I'll  calk  his  sides  and  tar  hi* 
bottom  for  him,  the  changing  dolphin.     He  an  officer  of  the  navy  !" 

"  Be  silent,  Tom."  said  B,elfo,rd ;  '•  let  us  act  like  men,  and  not  like 
women." 

"Man  the  gangway  1"  said,  We^yll.  "Now  you  will  see  the  com- 
mander of  this  vessel,  gentlemen." 

Truck  was  removed  some  distance,  but  JBelford  stood  watching  all 
iO»t  passed,  with  the  greatest  eagerupss. 

Falkno.r's  voice  was  heard,  saying,  "  Keep  the  gig  alongside  I" 


THE  WIZARD   CEEW.  55 

*'  Ay,  ay,  your  honor." 

"  By  heavens  !"  said  Belford,  "  'tis  himself.  Does  he  disgrace  oui 
tmiform  on  a  pirate's  deck?" 

"So,  Mr.  Belford,"  said  Falkner,  "you  are  welccme  to  my  trim 
schooner.     Weevil  is  all  ready." 

"  Yes,  sir,  all  is  ready  ;  we  wait  but  for  your  company." 

"  Ah  1"  said  Falkner,  carelessly,  "  the  governor  ?" 

'•  Ay,  ay,  sir — while  the  British  are  kicking  up  their  heels  in  a 
dance." 

"  We,"  said  the  captain,  "  will  ship  our  cable  and  stand  out.  Sir, 
you  and  that  man  will  accompany  me  ashore." 

"  Who  ?  I  ?"  said  Truck  ;  '•  I  would  ag  soon  be  blown  from  the 
mouth  of  a  gun.     Aren't  you  ashamed  of  yourself,  Capfr.  Falkner  ?    1 

speak  with  all  respect,  and  be  d d  to  you  I — but  don't  you  blush  as 

red  as  a  soldier's  coat,  when  you  think  what  a  d d  scoundrel  your 

honor  is  ?  You  gold-grubbing  pirate  !  My  eyes !  who  would  have 
thought  it  ?" 

"  That  rough  sailor,"  said  Belford,  "  tells  you  the  truth,  Capt.  Falk- 
ner, in  his  own  rough  way.  From  this  moment  I  would  think  myself 
justified  in  not  obeying  you.  I  will  never  disgrace  the  honor  of  my 
country's  flag — and  were  we  but  on  equal  ground,  the  man  that  dis- 
graces its  uniform,  should  not  escape  me." 

"  That  is  right,  your  honor,"  said  Truck  ;  "  let  us  get  up  a  little  hon- 
orable mutiny." 

Passively  and  coldly  Falkner  commanded  silence,  and  said  :  "  I  can 
command  obedience,  sir.  Hand  them  both  into  the  boat.  Harkee, 
Weevil,  how  many  chests  of  gold  are  in  the  boat?" 

"  Some  fifty,  sir." 

'•  Good  I  There  are  more  to  come.  See  that  the  state-room  is  ready. 
I  will  follow  you,  Mr.  Belford." 

'•  Resistance,  sir,  is  useless,  and  I  yield  to  force." 

"  Yield  to  what  you  please,  sir,  but  be  quick." 

Truck  said,  "  My  irons  are " 

"Knock  them  off;  we  will  take  care  of  him.  Weevil,  be  watchful; 
t  must  take  advantage  of  their  strange  mistake." 

'•  Ay,  ay,  sir,"  replied  the  subordinate. 

"  Now,  sir,"  said  Truck,  "  I  am  to  go  over  the  side  to  please  a  skip- 
per that  disgraces  his  flag.  Well,  I  have  been  over  for  one  rascal, 
and  I  see  no  reason  why  I  should  not  for  another.  But  take  this  for  a 
Veep-sake,  you  lubberly  stock-fish  !" 

The  old  coxswain  dashed  into  the  gang  of  pirates,  and  began  to  dea^ 


56  TOM   TKTJCK  '.     JV , 

Buch  hearty  blows  rigbt  and  left,  that  more  than  one  cf  the  rasoate 
measured  their  length  on  the  floor.  He  sprang'  over  the  side — and,  as 
he  did  so,  half  a  dozen  pistols  were  leveled  at  him,  so  that  his  days 
would  hve  been  ended,  had  not  old  Nanny  interposed.  The  captain 
was  new  ready,  and  the  boat  was  swiftly  rowed  ashore." 


CHAPTER    II. 

THE   PALACE. 


Our  scene  now  changes  to  the  palace  of  the  Governor  of  Santiago-— 
to  a  magnificent  sala,  with  pavement  of  tesselated  marble,  and  deep 
casements  opening  into  a  garden  prodigally  filled  with  the  glorious 
vegetation  of  the  tropics. 

Feraguez,  the  Spanish  officer  whom  we  have  known  before  at  the 
fonda  or  inn  of  Donna  Capella,  entered,  and  with  him  two  slaves,  bear- 
ing a  couch,  which  they  placed  near  the  window  and  immediately  left. 

Feraguez  looked  for  a  moment  around  him,  and  seeming  to  scan  the 
ornaments  of  the  apartment,  said  :  "  Carajo  !  it  is  a  pity  to  leave  so 
good  a  house  !  yet  with  the  gold  a  far  better  one  can  be  bought.  Ha, 
excellenza  I  it  is  done — all  done  !" 

"  Is  all  on  board  safely  ?" 

"  All  the  gold  and  papers.     The  jewels  I  have  kept." 

"  Are  you  sure  they  have  no  suspicion  in  the  mines?" 

"  None — none." 

"  I  have  removed  the  troops.  Bid  my  daughter  hasten  hither.  "Wc 
have  no  time  to  lose." 

"Not  a  moment.  Where  shall  I  find  her?  Jperhaps  if  I  look 
through  the  rooms,  I  may  find  some  stray  article  which  has  been  for* 
gotten.     Aha  !  that  is  not  a  bad  idea  for  a  teniente  !" 

Immediately  after  the  departure  of  Feraguez,  Isabinda  and  Dianex 
entered  from  the  other  side  of  the  room.     The  fair  Isabinda  said  : 

"  How  beautiful  the  ball  was  I  Why  did  my  father  hurry  me  so 
quickly  away  1  I  am  sure,  Dianez,  the  English  seem,  as  poor  old  Do- 
mingo says,  '  dear,  delightful  devils.'  I  wish  my  father  had  waited  for 
the  return  of  that  handsome  Belford,  who  has  twice  preserved  my  life." 

"  He  doubtless,  Seflora,  had  his  reasons.  Do  you  forget,  lady,  that 
we  leave  the  island  to-night  1" 


THE   WIZARD   CKEW.  6*^ 

*  That  cannot  be ;  I  will  refuse  to  go  until  I  am  able  to  thaflk  mj 
brave  deliverer." 

"  Ho  doubtless,  lady,  had  his  reasons.  Do  not  forget,  Donna  Isa- 
binda,  that  to-night  we  leave  the  island." 

"  That  is  impossible  !  He  cannot  mean  to  do  so.  Why  should  he  I 
No,  no,  I  will  not !  He  cannot  wish  me  to  do  so  without  one  word  of 
thanks  to  my  brave  deliverer.  He  cannot  mean  to  tear  me  from  my 
Sappy  home,  where  I  have  passed  my  whole  childhood  so  delightfully. 
[  will  mutiny." 

*■  And  will  you,"  said  Dianez,  "  mutiny  on  account  of  the  house  or 
jf  the  defender  ?  Forgive  me,  lady,  if  I  think  those  devils  of  whonrj 
i)omingo  speaks,  have  cast  some  strange  spell  upon  you — and  if,  instead 
of  being  the  saviour,  he  too  may  be  the  robber." 

"  Robber,  indeed  !"  said  Isabinda  ;  "  I  will  quarrel  with  you,  if  yoa 
dare  to  say  so  ;  for  his  manly  form,  his  expressive  face,  his  frank 
demeanor,  all  declare  him  a  man  of  honor.  On  my  word,  Dianez,  1 
shall  be  tempted  to  turn  champion  for  my  champion,  and  call  you 
out I  wonder  how  I  should  behave  in  a  duel !" 

"  I  am  glad,  donna,"  said  Dianez,  "  that  you  have  such  spirit ;  yet 
there  may  be  time  to  save  your  father  ;  he  seems  to  suflfer  in  his  mind. 
Know  you  who  it  was  he  introduced  to  you  on  board  the  Wizard  of  the 
Wave  ?" 

"  He  told  me,  not  long  since,  it  was  the  commander  of  the  schooner 
which  lay  beyond  the  point." 

"  Hear  me  Donna  Isabinda,"  said  Dianez :  "  My  aunt's  house  is  on 
the  road  towards  the  mines.  Once  I  had  a  lover,  an  Englishman,  whom 
I  shall  never  see  again  ;  and  I  used  to  sit  at  the  window  and  think  of 
him  ?  While  there,  I  have  seen  Feraguez,  your  father's  teniente,  and 
a  stranger  dressed  in  black,  bring  boxes  down  from  the  mines.  Om'e  I 
saw  your  father  with  them,  and "* 

"  Good  heavens  !"  said  Isabinda — "  in  the  night?  If  all  had  been 
right,  would  not  the  governor's  orders  have  made  darkness  unnecessary  ? 
Great  God  !"  said  the  young  girl,  "  what  a  terrible  suspicion  flashes 
across  me  !" 

'•  Hither  comes  the  governor,"  said  Dianez  ;  '•  I  have  told  you  this 
Decause  it  was  my  duty  to  do  so.     I  will  leave  you  now,  and  hope  ycai 
influence  may  save  your  father's  name  and  honor." 
«  What  shall  I  do  ?"  said  Isabinda. 

"  Don  Jose  entered  the  room  just  as  Dianez  left  it,  and  said  : 
"  Are  you  ready,  nay  child  ?  for  W3  must  go  at  once." 
"Whither,  dear  father?" 


^S  TOM   TRUCK  ;    OE, 

'■  Hence,"  said  the  governor,  "  from  this  lazaretto  of  the  miod 
Whither  we  go,  it  matters  not ;  but  we  seek  America,  where  kings  are 
powerless  and  titles  worthless — to  the  United  States." 

'•  You  go,  then,  in  the  vessel  which  is  in  the  ba^'  ?" 

'•  Yea  P  said  the  governor. 

"  Why  go  then  by  night?  why  leave  in  darkness  and  secresy?  why 
does  not  that  vessel  communicate  with  the  town  ?" 

"  Ask  me  no  questions." 

'•  Forgive  me,  dear  father,"  said  Isabinda  ;  but  I  must.  I  know  that 
I  am  young,  yet  feel  enough  that  I  can  prize  my  parent's  honor.  Have 
you  no  public  duties  to  discharge  }  What  will  the  people  of  Santiago 
say,  when  they  shall  learn  their  governor  has  fled  ?" 

"  What  means  this  ?  Questioned  by  my  child  !  Obey  me,  and  be 
mute  !" 

"  Father,  I  cannot !  I  would  see  you,  surrounded  by  the  officers  of 
Btate,  return  your  power  to  those  from  whom  it  came.  You  had  dO" 
minion  over  costly  mines." 

"  Mines  ! — of  course  I  had,"  said  the  governor.  Who  dare  asperse 
my  deeds?" 

"  All  will,  when  you  have  fled.  Thy  dare  to  tell  that  gold  has  been 
brought  at  night  from  those  same  mines " 

"  How  so,  girl  ?" 

"  So  it  is.     How  else  should  I  know  ?"  said  Isabinda. 

"  Have  they  ?"  said  the  governor.  '•  Eternal  fiends  !  Why  am  I 
thus  pursued  ?  From  earliest  youth  ruin  and  disappointment  ever 
have  dogged  my  steps.  Thwarted  in  wealth,  love,  ambition,  everything! 
When  triumph  seemed  within  my  grasp,  the  brim  has  been  torn  away  1 
Now,  now  too,  my  own  child's  hand " 

'■  Must  I  listen  ?" 

"  Daughter,  your  pride  of  innocence  would  not  permit  you  to  think 
your  father  guilty  of  a  crime  which  would  cause  him  to  fly  from  nis 
country  ?" 

"  No,  no,  no  !  '■  said  Isabinda-" 

"  I  fled  from  England,"  said  the  governor,  "  though  born  upon  the 
soil."  Were  I  now  to  place  my  foot  upon  her  shores,  the  scaffold  and 
the  executioner  would  do  their  duty  on  your  outlawed  father." 

"  How  can  that  be  ?     Father,  oh  father  !" 

"  Dear  daughter,  oniy  ray  of  light  to  cheer  my  path,  listen  to  me  :  I 
had  a  brother,  brave  and  true.  All  loved  him.  He  had  a  noble  name — 
the  Earl  of  Monteville.  He  was  older  than  I,  receiving  all  my  father's 
vast  estates,  while  I  was  penniless  and  poor.     I  hated  him.     I  loved 


THE   WIZARD   CRKTV.  58 

ohe  beautiful  as  the  morn,  but  sbo  loved  and  marrbd  bim.  Ask  m«  not 
why  I  bated  him." 

"  Father,  father  !"  said  Isabinda. 

"  Ay,  he  pitied,  a«  all  did,  the  younger  brother.  He  was  promoted 
to  a  lofty  place  and  went  abroad.  Three  years  rolled  on,  and  they  told 
he  had  two  sons.  They  said  the  climate  was  unhealthy,  and  sent  for  me 
to  hear  his  dying  words.  I  came  to  Jamaica.  With  me  was  a  hellish 
fiend,  who  called  himself  my  friend." 

"  You  found  your  brother  alive  ?"  said  Isabinda. 

"  Yes,  he  lived.  He  scarce  bad  time  to  bid  me  be  a  father  to  his 
sons  and  protector  of  his  wife  ere  he  died.  Then  did  this  devil  friend 
begin  his  work.  He  whispered  to  me  that  those  children  stood  alone 
between  myself  and  one  of  England's  proudest  Earldoms — > —    Wretch  ! 

Wretch  ! Guided  by  his  advice,  I  sailed  for  England.     A  pirate 

overtook  our  unarmed  ship.  They  said  that  it  was  strange  we  were 
not  robbed  ;  they  did  not  do  so,  but  took  the  twin  boys  from  their  fond 
mother's  breast,  and  while  she  madly  raved,  bore  them  away  for  ever!" 

"Ah  !"  said  Isabinda,  "  this  is  fearful  !" 

"  She  never  saw  them  again,  but  died  broken-hearted,  and  I  became 
Earl  of  Monteville.  On  my  rich  estates,  my  friend,  the  pirate  child- 
robber,  soon  joined  me.  He  said  the  children  were  in  safety,  but  never 
more  could  trouble  me.  I  loved  and  married,  and  now  offended  Heaven 
lets  loose,  in  its  justice,  all  its  bolts  upon  me.  You  were  born.  At  first 
I  could  not  love  you,  for  my  injured  nephews  ever  stood  before  me. 
My  friend  seemed  more  a  father  to  you  than  I  can  be.  Even  then  the 
devil  plotted  your  mother's  ruin.  Start  not,  Isabinda.  for  he  triumphed 
and  she  fell  before  his  arts.  Look  not  as  if  you  doubted,  for  she  con- 
fessed it ;  and  when  I  stabbed  and  trampled  on  the  fiend,  she  clasped 
bis  body  and  cursed  me." 

<'  Great  God  !" 

"  All  this  is  true.  That  hour  is  written  on  my  heart  and  brain  in 
fire.  They  tried  me  for  his  murder.  Would  you  believe  me,  girl,  they 
tried  and  condemned  me  for  killing  the  seducer  of  my  wife  ?  I  fled  the 
hated  land.  The  retribution  of  offended  Heaven  stripped  nie  of  all  the 
wealth  and  honors  I  had  gained  by  crime.  They  cast  me  forth  a  beg- 
gar. I  could  have  borne  all  but  the  thought  of  her.  I  had  deserved 
bate,  but  not  from  her.  I  had  through  him  wronged  the  orpliaus.  But 
I  loved  her,  the  mother  of  my  child  ;  yet  on  her  knees  she  cursed  mc  aa 
the  murderer  of  her  paramour.  Isabinda,  even  now  when  the  memory 
of  those  days  come  back,  my  brain  grows  dizzy  and  my  pulse  grows 
foiok.     I  feel — I  know  that  I  am  mad." 


6*0  TOM   TRTJCfi  ;   OE, 

The  poor  g'lr.  sank  on  her  knees  and  wept.  After  a  moment,  sb« 
recovered  her  voice  and  said  : 

"  Yet.,  dear  father,  forgive  me  if  I  weep  ;  for  sh(!  was  my  mother." 

"  She  is  dead,"  said  Don  Jose.  Bless  thee,  my  child  !  My  heart  \a 
now  relieved.  Prepare  for  night.  Since  that  sad  day  I  spoke  of,  I 
Dave  served  Spain  faithfully  ;  yet,  though  I  shed  my  blood  for  it, 
ingratitude  has  been  my  reward.  I  have  planned  a  bold  stroke  to 
decide  my  fate.  Just  at  the  moment,  that  mysterious  bark  came  like  a 
wizard  hither.  That  vessel  is  my  fate.  Now,  when  ingratitude  has 
maddened  me,  and  sweet  revenge  marked  out  a  golden  path  to  satisfy 
the  wishes  of  my  heart,  black  infamy  would  spoil  me  of  my  prey,  and 
thrust  me  forth  again  a  beggar." 

"  Dear  father,"  said  Isabinda,  "  you  must  not  go." 

"  It  is  too  late,  my  child,"  for  no  resource  is  left.  No  idle  tears 
DOW,  for  in  a  few  short  hours  we  shall  be  beyond  all  danger.  If  I  suo 
ceed,  princely  will  be  my  rank  :  I  am  a  villain  if  I  fail." 

"  Give  back  the  gold,"  said  Isabinda. 

"  It  is  on  board." 

"  Bring  it  back  at  once,"  said  Isabinda. 

»  He  will  not." 

"  Then  you  are  in  his  power?" 

"  I  am,  alas  !"  said  the  governor.  "  The  guilty  always  are  the  slaves 
of  those  they  trust.  You  will  curse  me  when  scorn  points  at  you  as  the 
felon's  daughter.  You  who  alone  have  loved  this  blighted  and  unhappy 
form,  will  curse  me  in  your  agony  of  shame." 

The  governor  seemed  to  suffer  deeply,  and  buried  his  face  in  his 
hands  ;  but  Isabinda  knelt  at  his  feet. 

"  Give  not  way  to  sorrow,"  said  she.  "  Think,  father,  think.  Should 
you  fly,  eternal  infamy  sinks  on  you.  It  cannot  be  worse  if  you  remain. 
May  not  the  generous  Englishman  aid  you  to  recover  from  the  stranger 
the  treasure  you  have  committed  to  his  care?  May  not  the  stranger 
deceive  you  in  the  end  ?" 

While  this  conversation  was  going  on,  the  Unknown  had  entered  un- 
seen, and  passionless  as  a  statue,  apparently  listened  to  the  conversation. 
His  dark  eye,  his  strongly-marked  face,  assumed  a  most  satanic  expres- 
sion.    He  said: 

"  The  end  is  come." 

Isabinda  and  her  father  started  at  the  sound  of  his  voice.  The 
Btranger  continued  : 

"  Let  me  not  disturb  you.  Another  hour  will  leave  the  Wizard  of 
the  Wave  within  the  bar.     Sit  down,  my  lord,  and  let  me  meet  th« 


THE   WIZARD   CKEYT.  61 

Arguments  of  this  most  lovely  pleader.  Let  ice  tall  her  the  English 
ship  is  here  alone  to  seize  her  father. 

''  Can  it  be  so?"  said  Don  Jose,  while  Isabinda  stood!  in  amazement. 

'•  Let  me  tell  you  this,"  said  the  stranger  :  "  The  Spanish  court  have 
heard  strange  reports  about  the  mines.  Spain  has  no  navy,  but  the 
closest  alliance  exists  between  her  and  England.  This  British  ship 
waits  but  to  make  the  proof  more  sure,  and  then  your  father  is  a 
prisoner.     You  know  if  he  can  find  the  proof " 

"  Then  flight  alone  can  save  me,"  said  the  governor. 

"  Who  then,  sir,  are  you?"  said  the  young  girl,  "who  urged  him  on 
to  this  dark  step  ?" 

The  stranger  said,  "  Lady,  I  am  his  friend,  and  on  me  alone  hence- 
forth you  must  depend  for  safety." 

"  My  safety  ?  what  can  eflfect  that  ?" 

"  The  stain,  lady,"  said  the  stranger,  "  on  your  father's  name.  Why, 
Don  Jose  de  Sandobal,  do  you  tremble  now  ?  Is  not  all  right  ?  Your 
daughter  will  accompany  you,  and " 

At  that  mom  nt  Weevil  came  in,  evidently  in  a  great  state  of  excite- 
ment. 

"  How  now  ?"  said  the  stranger. 

"  All  is  lost !'  said  Weevil ;  "  the  devil  fights  against  us." 

"  Fool !" 

"  He  has  been  on  board  of  our  ship  in  your  likeness.  He  has  do 
ceived  us,  and  rescued  two  prisoners." 

"  What !  in  my  likeness  !" 

'•  He  seemed  yourself,"  said  Weevil.  He  wore  your  face,  and,  by  the 
Lord,  your  own  gold  chain  !" 

''  Demons  of  Hell !"  said  the  stranger.  "  It  was  Falkner,  the  English 
Captain." 

"  But  the  likeness  ?"  said  Weevil. 

'•  Is  wonderful  and  beyond  my  understanding.  It  has  deceived  his 
own  officers.  Under  its  protection,  I  have  boarded  his  vessel,  and  now 
it  seems  he  is  aware  of  it,  and  has  used  it  against  me.  Action  alono 
can  save  all  from  ruin." 

''  Troops  are  in  the  hall,"  said  Weevil 

"  Troops  1"  said  Don  Jose. 

'•  Father,"  said  Isabinda,  "  you  yet  have  power." 

'■'■  Mark  me,  Don  Jose,"  said  the  Unknown,  "  disguise  now  is  useless. 
Remain,  if  you  please,  but  Isabinda  shall  be  my  companion." 

The  stranger  arose  from  his  seat,  and  seizing  Isabinda,  handed  hei 
to  Weevil 


62  rOM    TKoCB  ,    OB, 

"  Saj,  lady,  one  word,"  said  the  Unknown,  *  and  your  fatbtr  ilicft.  1 
will  not  be  disappointed.     Conae,  come,  for  every  iioment  is  of  valuj.  * 

"  Dare  you  threaten  me  ?"  said  Don  Jose. 

'•  I  dare  anything  !     Hark  !     I  hear  footsteps!     Listen  to  me,  lady 
you  are  at  liberty,  but  stir  not,  speak  not,  or  your  father  dies." 

The  Unknown  deliberately  placed  his  pistol  against  Don  Jose'a 
breast,  standing,  however,  so  that  none  who  entered  could  see  it — 
although  Isabinda  saw  it,  Weevil  at  the  same  time  exhibiting  his  weap- 
ons. The  subordinate  immediately  afterwards  posted  himself  on  the 
other  side  of  Don  Jose. 

At  that  moment  Feraguez  made  his  appearance,  and  as  the  door 
opened,  it  became  apparent  that  a  party  of  soldiers  stood  in  the  passage- 
way with  the  officers,  at  the  very  door  of  the  sala.  When  Feraguci 
aaw  the  Unknown,  he  bowed,  and  said  : 

"  Welcome,  Captain  !  Carrajo  !  Mr.  Weevil,  is  all  ready  for  the 
voyage  ?  The  soldiers,  though,  have  come  back.  The  officer  saj's  tha* 
all  is  well  where  they  were  sent.     What  shall  we  do  with  them  ?" 

Isabinda,  in  the  interim,  having  remained  in  extreme  terror,  said  : 

"  Tell  the  soldiers." 

"  The  Unknown  showed  his  pistol,  and  said  : 

"  Lady " 

That  single  jesture  was  enough,  and  she  sank  on  her  knees,  saying  : 

"  Good  saints,  assist  us  !" 

"  Had  not  your  excellency  beoi,  order  them  to  the  mines  ?"  said  the 
Unknown.  "  It  will  not  do,  Selior  Feraguez,  for  them  to  cross  our  path, 
Eh?^-you  know  that  troops  are  needed  there.  Tell  them  to  search 
carefully.     You  know  they  say  the  mines  are  robbed." 

'•  Ah,  yes,"  said  Don  Jose;  "  to  the  mines  !"  and  Feraguez  went  at 
once  to  give  the  order. 

The  stranger  withdrew  his  pistol,  and  the  governor,  half  overpowered, 
exclaimed : 

'•  Forgive  me,  oh  God !  for  I  have  acted  thus  only  to  save  my  daugh- 
ter's life." 

The  troops  left,  and  tfuis  terrible  sccD^  tbuc  ended. 


TBE   WIZAKD   CHEW.  63 


CHAPTER    III. 

DRUNKEN    SAILORS. 

Wi  have  been  before  at  Donna  Cappella's,  and  met  there,  among 
others,  two  worthies  who  will  figure  in  this  chapter.  They  need,  there- 
fore, no  introduction  ;  for  the  persons  we  speak  of,  were  Cutbody  the 
doctor,  and  Tim  Treacle  the  purser's  clerk.  Of  course  Donna  Capella, 
in  the  same  dress  we  have  previously  spoken  of,  was  present. 

"  Go  back,  gentlemen,"  said  Donna  Capella  ;  '■  you  have  had  enough." 

Let  us  premise  the  doctor  and  the  purser's  clerk  were  both  drunk. 

"  I  tell  you,"  said  the  doctor,  "  I  have  not  had  enough." 

"  No  no,"  said  the  purser's  clerk,  '•  nothing  like  it." 

"  Yes,  Sefiores,  you  have  come  home  with  me  like  English  devils- 
gentlemen,  I  mean — you  were  very  kind." 

"  Yes,  we  were  ;  doctor,  my  dear  friend,  one  word  with  you,"  said 
Tim.  "  After  the  unequivocal  manner  in  which  she  said  she  loved 
me "     (Tim  was  Very  drunk) 

"  True,"  said  the  doctor,  '•  her  disease  was  exhibited  with  such  highly 
inflammatory  symptoms,  that  it  becomes  me,  as  a  surgeon  and  a  gentle- 
man  " 

"  Yes,  that  is  it,"  said  Tim — "  as  a  gentleman,  I " 

'•  You  a  gentleman  !"  said  the  doctor.  "  It  is  I  that  am  the  gentle- 
man.    You,  you  registrar  of  yellow  dips,  a  gentleman  I" 

"  I  no  gentleman  !"  said  the  purser.  "  By  the  immortal  honor  of 
Plymouth  !  I  a  register  of  candles  !  What  are  you  ?  A  blister  on 
the  service  ? — a  bolus  to  the  crew  ! — a  poultice-prentice  !  You  a  gen- 
tleman !  By  the  hereditary  honors  of  my  grandmother,  who  was  lady's 
to  an  alderman.  I — I'll " 

'•  Stop  this  noise,"  said  Donna  Capella.  "  This  is  always  the  way  with 
■^our  countrymen,  who  drink  together  until  they  fight." 

"  Donna  Capella,  beautiful  as  you  are,  do  not  be  the  least  nervous.  I 
will  not  annihilate  the  slop-seller.  I  will  not  put  out  the  purser's  dip 
in  your  divine  presence,  but  if  he  gets  sick,  I  will  give  him  such  a  dose 
of  salts  and  senna  as  never  was  exhibited  before.  Your  black  eyes,  1 
vow,  are  brighter  than  all  the  bottles  in  an  apothecary's  window;  your 
glance  is  more  searching  than  mercury ;  and  your  love,  like  ipecacu- 
anha, goes  up  and  down  my  viscera  " 


<>4  TOM  teuck;  oe, 

"  Do  you  bear  him.  my  lovely  Spauiai  i  ?"  said  Tic^  "  In  a  week  he 
would  purge  you  to  death  Try  your  own  Treacle.  Did  he  not  jump 
on  your  toes  when  he  danced  with  you  ?  He  must,  however,  answer  to 
Die  for  it." 

"  No,  Seilor,  let  him  answer  to  me.  Sefior  Doctor,  eo  on  board,  and 
to-morrow  I  will  talk  to  you  about  physic." 

'•  3o  you,  then,  reject  me  for  that  low,  huxtering  animal — that  sub- 
ject ?" 

"  Animal !  subject !  Pshaw  1  he  hae  gone  into  the  body-snatching 
line." 

"  You  shall  meet  me,  though,  with  either  pistols  or  lancets — swords, 
I  mean" — said  the  doctor.  "  Tim,  I  wish  we  had  friends  here  to 
arrange  our  little  blood-thirsty  warfare." 

Just  then  the  master  came  in,  and  said,  "  Ha,  donna,  safely  stowed  t 
I  could  not  turn  in  until  I  knew  that  you  were  safe.  Well,  when  shall 
it  be  ?  I  have  epoken  to  the  captain,  and,  if  you  like,  he  will  raarry  vm 
to  morrow.     Shall  he  splice  us  before  the  week  is  out?" 

"  Marry  to-morrow  !"  said  Tim. 

"  Splice  before  the  week  is  out!"  said  Cutbody. 

"  Caleb,''  said  Tim,  "  we  are  cheated." 

Tim  walked  ferociously  up  and  down  the  room,  and  said.  "  I  will  bo 
revenged — I  will  kill  somebody." 

Caleb  went  up  to  Manly,  and  said  . 

«  Sir,  I « 

Tim  echoed  his  words,  and  said : 

"  Sir !" 

"  Phew  1"  said  the  master,  "  what  is  in  the  wind  ?" 

"  Tim,"  said  the  doctor,  "you  fight  Manly,  and  I  will  call  out  Donn* 
Capella." 

"  Aha  1"  said  Manly,  "  if  you  want  to  fight,  here  are  the  documents 
(He  pulled  out  a  pair  of  horse  pistols.)  I  wave  rank,  and  we  can  settle 
ch*-  matter  at  once.     I  wave  rank." 

'•  It  is  not  a  good  remedy  for  my  complaint,"  said  the  doctor. 

"  What  say  you,  Tim  ?"  said  Manly. 

"  Dear  Tim,"  said  the  doctor,  "  I  will  be  your  second." 

"  No,  I  thank  you,  doctor." 

"  But,  donna,  have  you  not  a  word  to  say  to  Tom  Truck,  who  hat 
eome  ashore  to  lay  up  in  ordinary  and  marry  you?" 

'•  What,  Truck  !"  said  Donna  Capella  ;  "  the  Lord  love  hie  pigtail  I* 

Manly  turned  to  the  doctor  and  clerk,  and  said : 

"  All  hands  aboard  I    I  hnej  tb  ere  is  work  ahead." 


THE   WIZABD   CKEW.  6ft 

Tim  said,  "  Do  you  mean  fighting?  Doctor,  I  am  vcrj  si^k  ;  donna, 
can  you  give  me  a  bed  ?" 

"  Ah  yes,  douna,  do  so,"  said  the  doctor ;  "  I  will  stay  to  attend  to 
bim." 

"  Attend  to  him  1  Attend  to  the  ahip — I  wiii  boe  you  aboard.  Adieu, 
donna — one  kiss.  We  have  to  board  some  planet — may  be  the  moon  ! 
Lord  !  there  is  no  knowing  what  we  may  be  at,  when  the  devil  takea 
the  lead  !" 

Tim  was  at  once  taken  very  sick.  The  doctor  was  assiduously 
attentive ;  but  Manly  hurried  them  both  away,  in  spite  of  Tim's  in- 
creased illness  and  the  doctor's  immense  assiduity. 


CHAPTER    IV, 


THE    CBIS13. 


Our  scene  now  opens  in  a  Posada  or  inn,  which,  however,  is  not 
Donna  Capella's..  It  was  a  low,  wooden  house,  with  stables  on  one 
side  and  on  the  other  an  open  field.  The  lodging  rooms  were  above, 
and  were  approached  by  a  stairway  from  the  room  to  which  we  have 
introduced  our  reader. 

Falkner,  Belford,  and  Ralph  Raddle,  a  mariner  of  the  Wizard  of 
the  Wave,  entered  the  room.  Since  the  boat  left  the  side  of  the  Mel- 
chor,  rapid  as  had  been  its  passage,  much  had  taken  place  between  the 
captain  and  his  lieutenant.  The  latter  had  heard  Cnpt.  Falkner's  ex- 
planation ;  and  though  not  satisfied,  was  at  least  able  to  hear  it  without 
excitement.  It  was  not  strange  that  the  peculiar  circumstances  which 
took  Belford  on  board  the  piratical  vessel,  should  make  a  deep  impres- 
sion on  him,  and  that  the  apparent  incongruity  of  the  captain  of  a 
cruizer  giving  orders  on  the  deck  of  a  pirate-ship  should  seem  almost 
inexplicable.  Belford  was  not,  however,  aware  of  the  dread  mystery 
about  to  be  unveiled  to  our  readers,  which  made  all  this  natural  enough. 

"Belford,  ray  friend,"  said  Capt.  Falkner,  "strive  to  throw  ofi^  this 
apathy.  I  have  promised  you  an  explanation  which  should,  and  I  know 
will  satisfy  you.  Exert  yourself,  then,  for  the  honor  you  think  I  dis- 
grace ;  for  never  were  your  own  courage  and  fidelity  more  required." 

"  Capt.  Falkner,  I  have  told  you  fairly  why  I  refuse  to  obey  yoa 
You  yourself  admit  that  my  reasons  are  fairly  grounded.  Why  this 
Biystery  ?     It  must  be  useless,  where  the  object  is  honorable." 


66  TOIit   TRIJCR  ;    OE, 

Falkner  looked  sadlj  at  the  3'oun£'  man,  and  said  : 

"  Belford,  I  trust  you  will  learn  to  repent  ever  having  suspected  me 
of  motives  not  dictated  by  stern  honor  and  duty.  The  circumstances, 
ho /fever,  are  so  utterly  beyond  even  my  own  comprehension,  tliat  I  feel 
com  polled  to  use  all  forbearance  for  the  doubts  you  imply.     Raddle  !" 

"  Your  honor  !" 

"  Have  you  obeyed  my  orders  to  the  letter  ?" 

"  Every  inch,  your  honor.  I  parted  the  men,  and  argued  the  mat- 
ter with  Tom  Truck,  the  coxswain  of  your  honor,  and  he  said  :  'Well, 
I  will  believe  all  is  fair,  but  blast  my  eyes  if  the  captain  is  not  the 
devil!  I  have,'  said  he,  'private  reasons  for  thinking  so.'  He  will 
be  down  at  the  signal  for  the  boat's  crew." 

"  Raddle,"  said  the  captain,  '-you  shall  be  promoted  for  this." 

"  Your  honor,"  said  the  marine — '•  that  I  have  seen  you  in  two 
places  at  once,  there  is  no  denying  ;  and  everybody  says  you  have  rela- 
tions down  below  !  But  then  I  thought  of  the  good  I  had  seen  you 
lo,  and  said  to  myself:  '  He  who  is  kind  to  the  poor,  protects  the  weak, 
's  merciful  to  his  enemies,  and  fights  for  his  country,  cannot  be  a  bad 
■«an.'     Damme,  I  would  believe  in  the  devil  if  he  acted  thus  I" 

'•  Thank  yon,  Raddle  !"  said  the  captain.  '•  What  think  you  novr, 
Mr.  Belford  ?" 

'•  Sir,  I  ask  your  pardon,  and  think  as  that  poor  marine  does;  yet, 
lir,  I  found  you  in  such  situations  !" 

"  You  must  have  been  puzzled — I  admit  it.  The  likeness  between 
the  pirate  captain  and  myself  is  certainly  strange  and  mysterious.  He 
tias,  I  am  told,  a  chain  like  this  on  my  neck.  Can  it  be  that  he  too  has 
a  similar  picture  ?" 

The  captain  showed  the  lieutenant  the  portrait  of  a  beautiful  woman, 
/ind  said  : 

"  It  is  my  mother,  whom  I  never  knew.  Now,  though,  Belford,  to 
work  !  Send  my  boat  on  board,  and  tell  Hearton  to  get  the  vessel 
over  the  bar,  if  there  be  water  enough.  I  must  watch  my  chiefest 
prize,     I  need   not   tell  you  to  do  your  duty  to  your  country." 

"  Nor  need  I,  if  your  duty  leads  you  to  act  against  the  governor,  ask 
you  to  be  merciful  to  him  and  gentle  to  his  daughter.  I  obey  you, 
eir  ;  and  if  I  have  wronged  you,  ask  your  pardon." 

"Where  are  the  marines,  Raddle?"  said  Falkner,  after  Belford  had 
left  the  room. 

"They  are  in  the  stables,  sir.     I  smuggled  them  ^n,  one  by  one." 

•'  The  rooms  up  stairs  must  overlook  the  sea,  and  I  will  use  them 
Perhapa,  too.  they  command  the  road.     Be  watchful,  Raddle." 


THE   WIZARD   CRETV  67 

Tlie  captain  ascen^M  the  stairway,  leaving  the  marine  alcne. 

Raddle  assumed  an  ultra-military  air,  threw  out  hi8  chest,  and  said, 

Ahem,  I  command   the  land  forces  !      Blast  my  musket,  but  I  am 

promoted  !     Lord,  if  there  was  just  a  castle  to  storm,  or  a  general  to 

take  prisoner,  I  would  make  my  fortune.     Hark  !  I  hear  the  tramp 

of  men  ;  somebody  comes  this  way." 

Falkner  returned  down  the  stairway  he  ascended.  He  wore  a  great 
boat-cloak,  and  said  :  "  Raddle,  I  can  get  out  of  this  window  and  bring 
up  the  crew  to  cut  off  retreat  when  they  have  fairly  entered.  Listen 
for  my  signal."  Falkner  and  Ralph  left — the  one  going  to  the  stable 
and  the  other  in  the  direction  he  had  indicated. 

Scarcely  had  they  left,  when  Feraguez  entered  the  room,  and  was 
soon  followed  by  the  governor  and  sailors  under  charge  of  Weevil,  bear- 
ing heavy  boxes.  Soon  after,  the  stranger  came  in  with  a  party,  several 
of  whom  bore  Isabinda  in  a  litter.  With  her  was  the  faithful  Dianez. 
'"  Curse  on  them  !"  said  the  Unknown,  '•  no  signal  appears  to  bring 
the  boat.  Fear  not,  though,  sir;  for  we  will  wait  till  Weevil  hastens 
across  the  neck  of  land  and  brings  them  round.  This  sudden  freak  of 
Falkner's  has  ruined  all  my  calculations." 

"  I  must  obey  you,"  said  the  governor.  "  I  beg  you,  though,  take 
oare  of  my  child." 

"  I  will  protect  her  with  my  life.  A  few  pieces  of  gold  bribed  the 
keeper  of  this  inn  to  have  all  quiet.  Poor  fellow  !  he  has  few  guests : 
and  we  will  make  free  with  one  of  his  rooms  for  Isabinda  till  the  boats 
come.     Quick,  Weevil,  hurry  while  I  examine  the  rooms." 

Weevil  said,  "  You  had  best  keep  close  till  I  return."    Weevil  left. 

"Aha!"  said  Feraguez,  "the  coast  is  clear,  and  this  English  Jack 
Tar  is  done  brown.     Aha  I  now  for  the  signal !" 

It  must  be  understood  that  Raddle,  from  the  place  where  he  stood, 
could  see  both  the  party  in  the  room  and  the  captain ;  and  when  he 
saw  what  was  going  on,  muttered  to  himself: 

"  Now  is  the  captain's  time." 

'•  Now,"  said  Falkner,  "  is  the  time  for  my  leap  ;"  and  he  sprang 
from  the  window  almost  at  the  very  moment  the  Unknown  entered  the 
room.  The  latter  looked  carefully  around  and  descended,  saying  to 
the  governor : 

•'  Do  not  be  uneasy,  sir  ;  there  is  a  comfortable  room  above,  where 
Dianez  will  attend  her.  Come,  gentle  lady,  your  father,  your  friends 
arc  here ;  you  have  no  cause  for  fear^  and  in  a  short  ^ime  will  be  in 
•afety." 

*'  Father,  father,"  said  the  poor  girl,  "  could  I  only  think  so  1" 


68  TOil    i'KUCK  ;    OE, 

'■•  All  thought  and  hesitation,  IsabiLda,  must  be  discarded  now.  1.1 
jru  would  share  your  banished  father's  fortunes,  flight  is  our  onlj 
resource." 

"  I  will  accompany  you,  father,  for  ever." 

"  Go,  daughter,  to  your  room  ;  Dianez  will  accompany  you.  Rest 
there,  if  you  can,  that  you  may  have  strength  to  endure  whatever  you 
may  have  to  undergo." 

Isabinda,  followed  by  Dianez,  left  the  room. 

"Now,  lads,"  said  the  stranger,  "when  Weevil  comes,  be  brisk  with 
the  boxes.     Twenty  minutes  more,  and  we  are  safe." 

"  Are  we  not  now  ?"  said  Don  Jose  "  Did  you  not  say  the  Wizard 
could  not  cross  the  bar?" 

*'  She  cannot,  if  she  be  yet  at  hor  moorings." 

"  Whither  do  you  propose  to  go  ?" 

"  What  matters  it  to  one  who  seeks  to  escape  justice  ?" 

"  What  say  you  ?" 

"  Any  port,"  said  the  Unknown,  "  is  welcome  to  him  who  leaves  in 
famy  and  the  executioner  behind  him." 

"  Sir,  you  are  insulting." 

"  I  speak,"  said  the  villain,  "  only  the  language  of  the  world." 

"  Liar  and  scoundrel  !  your  persuasion  led  me  to  this." 

"  My  persuasion  would,  if  it  could,"  said  he,  "  have  forced  you  to  giv* 
me  your  daughter,  without  the  danger  of  this  expedition.  If  the  noble 
governor  of  Santiago — if  Don  Jose  de  Sandobal — would  thrust  r,n  me 
a  cargo  of  gold,  one  who  from  boyhood  lias  roamed  the  seas,  could 
not  refuse  so  fair  a  chance.  An  orphan  without  name,  I  have  terrified 
the  world,  and  needed  only  a  partner  of  my  fame.  Your  child  shall 
be  the  rover's  Queen,  his  deck  shall  be  her  throne,  and  the  treasury  of 
her  felon  father  her  dower." 

"  I  may  save  her,"  said  the  old  man — "  and  I  will,  if  I  die." 

The  governor  unsheathed  his  sword  and  rushed  on  the  pirate.  The 
contest  was.  however,  too  unequal — for  in  a  single  instant  he  was  dis- 
armed and  stabbed.  As  he  fell,  however,  he  seized  him,  ?.nd  tore  from 
his  neck  a  chain  and  portrait  wliich  the  villain  wore. 

"  Secure  that  door,"  said  the ;  pirate  and  one  o^  his  crew  at  once 
"astened  it. 

Don  Jose  looked  at  the  portrait,  and  exclaimed : 
"  Merciful  God  1  where  got  you  this  ?" 

"  Give  it  to  me  ;  it  is  my  mother's  picture." 

"  Your  mother  I     Great  God,  there  is  a  retribution  foi  our  sins  I" 

He  sank  exhausted,  and  at  that  moment  a  shrill  whistle  was  hCAid. 


THE   WIZARD   CKEW.  C9 

"  Ha  ha  !  tbat  is  the  boat  !'* 

Weevil,  followed  by  a  party  of  sailors,  rushed  in,  and  said. 

"  Quick,  to  the  shore  !  The  cruiser  is  all  awake,  and  boats  are  pull 
ing  from  her  to  land.      Ke  quick,  or  all  is  lost!" 

Damnation  !  hurry  !  hurry  !"  said  the  Unknown. 

A  distant  whistle  at  that  moment  was  heard,  and  Raddle  with  his 
marines  rushed  in  from  the  stables,  firing  on  the  party.  The  shots 
were  at  cnce  returned,  and.  in  the  contest,  the  straw  of  the  stable  which 
was  next  to  the  room  became  ignited.  The  blaze  spread  rapidly,  and 
the  confusion  became  intense.  It  was  not  lessened  when  Truck  rushec 
up  the  gateway  at  the  head  of  a  party  of  sailors,  completely  cutting  off 
all  retreat.  In  the  confusion,  the  old  governor  had  seized  the  Unknown, 
whom  he  grasped  convulsively.  At  that  moment  a  cry  was  heaid  from 
above,  which  reached  the  old  man's  heart  of  hearts. 

"  Ah."  said  he,  "  save  my  child  !  The  fire  spreads  rapidly  ;  save  my 
ahild  !" 

At  that  moment  Belford  and  Manly,  accompanied  by  a  large  detach- 
ment of  soldiers,  rushed  into  the  room  fully  armed,  and  began  a  contest. 
They  had,  however,  no  trifling  antagonist ;  for  the  Unknown  threw  him- 
self  in  advance,  and  exclaimed  : 

'•  Back !     No  power  can  wrest  this  treasure  from  me  '" 

The  governor  place  himself  in  the  ranks  of  the  cruiser,  and  with  Bel- 
ford  rushed  on  the  Unknown,  and  sought  to  kill  or  disarm  him.  Though 
two  to  one,  they  had  found  an  equal ;  and  Truck,  perceiving  it,  sought 
to  ascend  the  steps  which  led  from  a  kind  of  gateway  to  the  room.  He 
was,  however,  met  by  Weevil — no  trifling  antagonist ;  and  being  at  the 
same  time  attacked  by  Wilkins,  was  hurled  from  the  steps.  The  pirates 
had  rallied,  and  the  Wizard's  crew  were  driven  back  ;  though  Belford 
and  the  governor  forced  the  captain  of  the  Melchor  to  retreat.  At  last 
Truck  was  forced  to  leave  Manly  alone  apposed  to  Weevil ;  and  when 
the  former  sought  to  ascend  the  stairway,  a  deadly  contest  ensued.  In 
the  meantime  the  noise  on  the  outside  became  more  intense,  and  Weevil 
was  disarmed.  Nothing  but  his  activity  prevented  his  being  cut  down; 
and  in  his  retreat,  he  had  nearly  overturned  Truck,  who  gradually  was 
gaining  on  Wilkins.  Manly  followed  him  up,  and  Truck  advanced  up 
the  steps.  A  new  phase  of  the  contest,  however,  ensued ;  for  the  Un- 
known, to  whom  the  governor  had  been  some  time  opposed,  finally  was 
cut  down,  and  Truck  met  the  antagonist  he  had  long  sought  for.  Cut- 
ting Weevil  down,  he  met  the  Unknown,  but  had  scarcely  crossed  swords, 
when  Belford,  though  wounded,  rushed  upon  him.  The  contest  con- 
tinued, the  fire  raged,  and  the  Unknown  overturning  Truck,  rushed  ub 


fO  -roil  TRUCK  ;  oe, 

the  blazing  stairway.  I'ruck  rapidly  followed  him,  but  the  iteps  gavfl 
way,  and  while  he  was  seeking  to  follow,  the  wbole  front  of  the  house 
fell  in.  When  the  crash  had  subsided,  and  the  smoke  cleared  away, 
the  Unknown  was  seen  bearing  Isabinda  away,  while  Dianez  clung 
madly  to  hira.  The  old  gOTernof  was  apparently  dying  in  Belford'a 
arms.  Anxious  as  he  was  to  save  the  old  man,  he  consigned  her  to 
others,  and  sought  to  regain  the  pirate  captain.  It  was.  however,  in 
vain  ;  for,  exhausted  by  his  wound,  he  could  not  keep  pace  with  him ; 
and  the  ravislier,  with  the  remnant  of  his  crew,  reached  his  boats. 

The  yawls  from  the  man-of-war  had  been  loft  alone,  and  the  pirates 
were  able  to  escape,  bearing  with  them  the  governor's  unfortunate 
daughter.  Manly  and  Belford  could  but  rescue  that  portion  of  the  gold 
which  had  been  left  by  the  pirates,  from  the  ruina  of  the  smoking 
posada,  and  returned  to  the  vessel. 


'Th«  ^following  story  from  Lieut.  Belford,  served  i»i  some  degree  to 
dispel  from  the  minds  of  his  companions  the  gloom  occasioned  by  the 
;.sad  events  above  recorded. 

THE  lieutenant's  SECOND  STORV. 

:SoME  years  ago,  not  far  from  Folkestone,  in  Kent,  stood  the  neat 
'little  cottage  of  two  virtuous  and  esteemed  orphans,  called  Martin  and 
Selina  Roseberry.  MarAin  was  a  noble-looking  boy,  with  a  heart  pos- 
sessed of  every  good  feeUug,  and,  although  he  was  really  young  when 
their  parents  died,  his  mind  was  so  well  matured  by  perseverance,  that 
he  possessed  all  the  resolution  of  a  man,  and  was,  in  fact,  no  bad  pro- 
tector for  Selina.  The  two  children  seemed  indeed  to  live  but  in  each 
other's  happiness.  Martin  would  run  for  miles  to  gather  a  uo.'^egay  for 
his  little  sister,  or,  bearing  her  in  his  arms,  would  ramble  to  the  sea- 
beach  to  gather  for  her  the  prettiest  shells.  Martin  was  some  years 
older  tlian  his  sister,  but  young  as  the  maiden  was,  she  already  evinced 
a  heart  and  mind  of  the  uiost  prepossessing  character,  and  charms  which 
augured  future  excellence.  Her  figure  was  that  of  a  perfect  little  fairy, 
and  her  countenance  of  tfie.most  fascinating  description.  She  was 
doatingly  fond  of  her  brother,  and  was  happy  only  when  he  was  in  her 
company. 

The  orphans  had  been   kft   by  their  late   mother  to  ine  care  of  their 

nurse,  Goody  MoUoy  ;  for  Mrs  Roseberry  had  managed  to  accumulate 

.  a  moderate  sum  of  money  by  her  own   industry,  which  she  left  for  the 

education  and   support  of  her  cljildreu,  until   they  should   arrire  at  i 


THE   WIZAKD   CREW.  71 

fitting  age  to  provide  for  themselves,  when  the  residua  was  to  le  given 
to  Goody  Molloy,  for  her  future  support  and  comfort. 

And  well  did  poor  old  Dame  Molloy  perform  the  sacred  task  en- 
trusted to  her ;  for  she  loved  the  children  the  same  as  if  they  had  been 
her  own,  and  they  returned  her  affection  with  equal  warmth. 

Thus  passed  away,  in  uninterrupted  happiness,  several  years,  and 
Martin  Roseberry  was  accounted  one  of  the  handsomest  of  boys  in  or 
near  Folkestone,  while  Selina  was  accounted  one  of  the  prettiest  of  chil- 
dren the  imagination  could  conceive.  At  this  time,  however,  her  happi- 
ness was  somewhat  marred  by  her  brother  taking  a  predilection  for  the 
sea;  and  he  would  not  rest,  in  spite  of  the  affection  he  bore  for  Selina 
and  the  dame,  till  he  became  apprenticed  to  a  collier. 

He  performed  several  short  voyages  in  this  capacity,  when  the  war 
breaking  out,  he  was  pressed  ;  and  years  passed,  and  Selina  beard 
nothing  of  him,  neither  did  she  know  whether  he  was  living  or  dead. 

Swiftly  the  time  flew  away,  and  Selina  had  become  a  fine-looking 
young  woman,  the  admiration  of  the  whole  place,  and  the  envy  of  all 
the  men.  However,  thero  was  only  one  on  whom  Selina  delighted  to 
smile  with  any  other  feeling  than  respect,  and  that  was  a  yoking  fisher- 
man of  the  name  of  James  Heartwin.  He  was  a  fine,  handsome  young 
man  ;  but  having  been  left  too  early  to  his  own  will,  he  was  enticed 
into  the  paths  of  folly  and  dissipation,  and  had  so  far  ruined  his  for- 
tunes, that,  unable  to  procure  a  sufl&ciency  by  his  own  profession  to 
gratify  his  improvidence,  he  was  induced  to  become  the  friend  and 
assistant  to  a  gang  of  desperate  smugglers,  who  had  a  secret  retreat  in 
an  old  abbey  on  the  sea-coast  at  Folkestone 

James  was  not  naturally  depraved  ;  his  errors  were  not  those  of  a 
naturally  bad  heart,  but  entirely  owing  to  the  giddiness,  thoughtless- 
ness, and  generosity  of  youth  ;  and  frequently,  in  his  serious  moments, 
he  was  greatly  troubled  on  account  of  his  bad  conduct,  and  made  many 
vows  to  reform. 

Selina  he  loved  with  a  passion  the  most  pure  and  sincere,  and  when 
he  found  that  her  heart  beat  in  unison  with  his  own,  he  reproached 
himself  severely  for  being  so  unworthy  of  her,  and  determined  at  last 
to  abandon  his  companions,  and.  by  hia  future  behaviour,  to  make 
Bome  reparation  for  his  past  conduct.  The  gentle  Selina,  too,  as  a 
sister,  often  advised  him  to  repent  of  his  errors,  and  yet  she  did  so  with 
suoh  an  air  of  ardent  affection  and  impressive  virtue,  that  he  must 
have  been  a  heartless  villain,  indeed,  bad  he  still  persisted  in  his  guilty 
career. 

Therp  was  one  ind'vidual  who  beheld  the  passion  James  Heartwin 


72  TOM   TKUCK  ;    OB, 

find  Sclina  entertained  for  each  other  with  feelings  of  the  most  bittes 
jealousy.  This  was  a  dissipated  gentleman,  who  resided  at  Folkestone* 
called  Sir  William  Pledger.  Blessed  with  ever}'  natural  qualification 
the  baronet  had  succeeded  but  too  well  in  his  nefarious  designs.  A 
more  reckless,  dissipated,  or  tyrannical  villain,  never  existed.  Numer- 
ous were  the  unfortunate  victims  of  his  treachery  that  lived  to  cursa 
him,  and  now  he  marked  the  beauteous  Selina  for  another.  One  un 
happy  being,  whom  he  had  met  in  France,  and  lured  from  her  home, 
wandered  about  Folkestone,  clad  in  the  garb  of  a  gipsy,  a  wretched 
maniac — lovely  still,  even  in  her  desolation.     Her  name  was  Mabel. 

Sir  "William  was  perfectly  aware,  that  while  Ja^mes  Heartwin  stood  in 
the  way,  he  had  no  chance  of  success  with  Selina,  and  be  therefore 
formed  a  plan  to  remove  him.  He  addressed  a  letter  to  the  press- 
master,  who  was  his  particular  friend,  telling  him  that  there  was  a  cer- 
tain James  Heartwin,  a  wild,  worthless  young  man,  whom  it  would  be 
advisable  to  remove  from  the  country,  and  if  he  would  send  a  number 
of  mien  down  to  the  Abbey  ruins  at  night,  be  would  find  him  lurking 
about,  and  might  easily  force  him  on  board  the  English  man-of-war  called 
the  Britai^uia,  then  lying  in  the  ofiBng.  This  letter  he  induced  one 
Bobby  Crick,  a  busy,  meddling  fellow,  a  Jack-of  all-trades,  in  the  vil- 
lage, by  the  promise  of  a  handsome  reward,  to  convey  to  the  press-master. 
But  Bobby  dropped  the  letter  on  the  road,  and,  by  a  singular  interven- 
tion of  Providence,  Selina  was  passing  at  the  time,  who  picked  it  up, 
and,  perceiving  that  it  was  addressed  to  the  press-master,  and  was  not 
sealed,  curiosity  prompted  her  to  peruse  the  contents.  How  astonished 
was  the  damsel  at  the  purport  of  the  letter,  and  the  treachery  of  Sir 
William  Pledger.  In  a  moment  an  idea  suggested  itself  to  her  mind 
by  which  she  might  save  her  lover,  although  it  would  be  at  the  risk  of 
great  danger  to  herself  She  was  resolved,  however,  to  run  the  chance. 
She  determined,  by  some  means,  to  procure  a  suit  of  James's  apparel, 
and  be  at  the  place  where  the  press-gang  was  to  seize  him,  in  his  stead. 
She  knew  that  James  was  now  absent  from  his  hut,  and  therefore, 
dropping  the  letter  on  the  same  spot  where  she  had  found  it,  made  the 
best  of  her  way  towards  his  residence 

Bobby  Crick,  who  discovered,  to  his  no  small  vexation,  that  he  had 
lost,  the  important  letter  entrusted  to  him  by  Sir  William  Pledger,  and 
dreading  his  anger,  returned  to  the  spot  in  a  state  of  the  greatest 
trepidation.  To  his  infinite  delight,  he  there  beheld  it  on  the  ground, 
and,  putting  it  into  bis  pocket,  he  departed  immediately  to  the  press- 
master's. 

Inhere  was  another  being  who  bad  also  watched  the  actions  of  Si' 


THE    ^YIZAED   CEEW.  fti 

?7illiam  narrowly  ;  and,  although  her  brain  wandered  at  tii»eSj  yet  elia 
had  still  reason  enough  to  coinmiserate  the  misfortunes  of  her  fellow- 
creatures,  and  to  endeavor  to  frustrate  the  plans  of  a  villain  whom  she 
had  so  much  reason  to  abhor.  She,  therefore,  employed  a  poor  simple 
fellow  named  Jeremiah  Supple,  who  dwelt  in  a  miserable,  leaky  cottage 
00  the  coast,  to  go  to  James  Heartwin,  and  warning  him  of  his  danger^ 
advised  him  to  be  at  his  own  hut  at  the  hour  the  miscreants  purposed 
seizing  him. 

In  the  meantime,  Selina  had  hastened  to  the  hovel  inhabited  by 
James,  who  was  absent,  and  gaining  an  easy  entrance  by  the  window, 
she  quickly  attired  herself  in  one  of  her  lover's  suits,  and  bent  her 
steps  towards  the  smuggler's  retreat.  As  she  left  the  hovel,  James 
entered,  and  fancied  he  saw  a  form  flit  past  him,  but  the  night  was  so 
dark  that  he  could  not  be  positive  ;  so  he  entered  his  hut,  where  he 
busied  himself  for  some  time  in  ruminating  upon  the  strange  warning 
he  had  received  from  Mabel. 

The  heroic  Selina  soon  arrived  at  the  dreary  ruins  which  formed  the 
smuggler's  retreat.  The  hour  quickly  arrived,  and,  true  to  their  agree- 
ment, the  press-gang  entered  the  place  cautiously  ;  and  seeing  Selina 
in  male  attire,  took  her  to  be  their  victim,  immediately  seized  her,  and, 
in  spite  of  her  pretended  resistance,  forced  her  into  the  boat,  and  rowed 
her  with  all  possible  dispatch  to  the  vessel. 

Sir  William  Pledger  had  been  anxiously  waiting  the  result  of  hig 
nefarious  stratagem  ;  and  when  he  beheld  them,  as  he  imagined,  seize 
upon  James,  he  started  forth,  and  exulted  over  his  success.  While  he 
was  thus  occupied,  Mabel  entered  and  confronted  him.  Her  eyea 
sparkled  with  reproaches  as  she  pointed  to  the  Britannia,  lying  in  the 
offing,  and  which  the  pale  moon's  rays  just  revealed  to  them. 

"  Sir  William  Pledger,"  she  exclaimed,  "  doubtless  you  imagine  that 
your  triumph  is  complete." 

"  At  any  rate,"  said  the  baronet,  with  an  ironical  smile,  •'  my  rival 
is  secure  James  Heartwin " 

'•  Is  here  !"  cried  Mabel,  as  she  waved  her  hand  ;  and,  to  the  confu.sion 
of  the  villain,  the  youth  he  imagined  he  had  secured  on  board  the  vessel 
appeared  before  him. 

"  How  is  this  ?"  ejaculated  Sir  William  ;  '•  my  rival  here  !  Who, 
jhen,  was  the  individual  seized  by  the  press-gang  ?" 

"  She  thou  wouldst  have  made  another  victim  to  thy  wicked  passionts 
villain  !"  answered  Mabel  ;  "  Selina  Roseberry." 

"  Selina !"  cried  James  ;  "  merciful  powers  !  can  I  hear  arigtt  ? 
But  on  your  heac".,  traitor,  depend  upon  it,  I  will  have  ample  veng© 


74  roM  TEUCK  ;  ok, 

•nee  for  ibis  outrage.  Think  not  that  youi  rank  will  prt/tcct  ^oVj 
for,  though  I  am  humbh,  yet  is  my  arm  strong  enough  to  avengv 
treachery  such  as  thine,  and  to  stand  up  the  champion  of  unprotected 
innocence." 

Sir  William  was  thunderstruck,  and  could  not  reply ;  and  while  this 
altercation  was  proceeding,  the  Britannia  set  sail,  and  was  soon  out  of 
sight. 

We  must  now  quit  the  scene  of  the  commeaceraent  of  our  narrative, 
and  request  the  reader  to  accompany  us  to  France,  and  to  the  interior 
of  a  French  prison,  where  at  that  time  a  few  of  the  most  gallant  sona 
of  Britannia  were  in  the  "  bilboes." 

Among  these  prisoners,  who  were  all  belonging  to  the  Britannia,  were 
Selina  and  her  own  brother,  Martin  Roseberry,  whom  she  had  not  seen 
for  so  many  years,  and  who  was  also  so  much  altered  that  it  was  im- 
possible for  any  one  who  had  known  him  formerly  to  recognize,  in  hia 
strong,  robust,  hardy  tone  of  thirty,  the  simple,  innocent  boy  of  ten, 
playing  on  the  sea-coast  with  his  golden-haired  sister,  and  gathering  for 
her  the  prettiest  shells  to  amuse  her.  Martin's  name  had  never  been 
beard  by  Selina  on  board  the  vessel,  though  she  entertained  a  sincere 
friendship  for  him  from  the  very  moment  when  she  first  belield  him  ; 
for  his  manners  were  so  different  to  the  rest  of  the  crew.  Martin  had 
also  felt  the  deepest  interest  in  the  sailor  boy,  as  he  called  Selina,  and 
often  wondered  what  could  ever  have  induced  them  to  make  a  sailor 
of  one  so  slight  and  delicate. 

Now  they  were  prisoners  together,  Selina  knew  him  as  no  other  than 
Charles  Jackson,  though  what  were  his  real  motives  for  assuming  that 
name,  we  shall  not  attempt  to  surmise. 

Colonel  de  la  Gariole,  the  governor  of  the  prison  in  which  they  were 
confined,  was  a  gentleman  who,  in  addition  to  many  really  good  quali- 
ties, was  exceedingly  vain  and  aiubitiou.-!.  The  present  event  was  one 
he  hailed  with  pleasure  ;  the  idea  of  his  taking  prisoners  so  many  of 
the  brave  English,  he  imagined  would  procure  him  no  little  honor,  and 
he  therefore  laid  strict  injunctions  on  his  lieutenant,  Clarispe,  to  look 
carefully  after  them,  and  on  no  account  to  suffer  them  to  wander  beyond 
the  limits  of  the  prison-yard.  The  prison  in  which  the  sailors  were 
incarcerated  was  adjoining  (and  only  divided  by  a  slight  partition)  one 
which  was  appropriated  to  the  confinement  of  French  deserters,  among 
whom  were  two  notorious  fellows  named  Lanfranc  and  Lamort ;  but 
aaore  of  them  anon. 

On  the  morning  after  the  capture  of  Martin  and  his  messmates,  the 
fOTcrnor,  who  was  anxi-'.ur  to  see  that  they  were  all  safe,  summoaed 


TIIE   WIZARD   CREVT.  73 

them  into  his  preaence.  Martin  was  the  first  that  appeared  heforc  him 
and  the  hooest  tar  hitched  up  his  slacks,  twisted  his  quid,  and  gazed 
upon  the  governor  with  the  utmost  indifference.  The  governor  could 
not  help  admiring  the  noble-looking  figure  of  the  Briti.sh  seaman,  and 
the  honest  frankness  that  shone  in  his  countenance;  and  aftor  contem- 
plating him  for  a  few  minutes,  thus  addressed  him  : 

"Englishman,  although  we  are  enemies,  I  am  anxious  to  show  you 
how  we  treat  those  brave  fellows  whom  the  chances  of  war  have  thrown 
into  our  power," 

"  The  chances  of  war,"  exclaimed  Martin,  with  a'  smile  ;  "  avast  there 
—belay  !  Your  honor  knows  very  well  that  it  was  an  accident  that 
threw  us  into  your  clutches.  We  were  straying  a  little  too  far  from 
our  gallant  vessel,  the  Britannia,  when  we  were  surprised  by  a  lot  of 
your  maccaronis,  and  put  into  the  bilboes ;  and  yet  you  call  this 
getting  us  by  fair  fighting.  Shiver  my  topsails  !  had  two  or  three  of 
your  largest  vessels  ventured  to  attack  the  Britannia,  methink.s  we 
should  have  taught  your  honor  a  little  more  about  the  chances  of  war." 

"  Englishman,"  retorted  the  governor,  sternly,  "  this  insolent  lan- 
guage will  not  be  tolerated  here,  and  cannot  procure  you  any  good." 

'•  Insolent,  do  you  call  it?"  returned  Martin;  ''why,  you  see  we 
British  tars  are  so  accustomed  to  speak  the  plain  and  honest  truth  to 
an  enemy,  that  it  comes  as  nat'ral  to  us  as  our  mother  tongue." 

"  Well,  well  I  admire  your  candor,  young  man."  said  the  governor; 
"  and  would  wish  to  serve  you.  Besides,  I  do  not  hate  your  country  ; 
no,  I  have  something  there  that  binds  me  to  it,  I  had  a  daughter 
there  as  beautiful  as  imagination  can  depicture  ;  two  years  since  sho 
was  seduced  away  from  me  by  an  English  gentleman,  and  although  I 
have  made  every  inquiry  after  her,  I  have  never  been  able  to  ascertain 
her  fate.  Oh,  young  man,  can  you  feel  for  the  sufferings  of  a  parent 
thus  cruelly  deprived  of  the  prop  of  his  declining  years?  If  you  can 
oh.  say  that  you  will  assist  me  in  endeavoring  to  recover  my  child.  In 
a  short  time  we  expect  that  peace  will  be  proclaimed  between  our  two 
nations,  and  then  your  liberty  will  be  granted  you,  and " 

'•  Avast,  avast  !"  your  honor,  interrupted  Martin  ;  "  can  you  talk  of 
my  serving  you  when  I  am  still  your  prisoner?  Now,  if  I  were  in  your 
honor's  place,  and  I  had  taken  a  lot  of  brave  fellows  like  niy.self  and 
my  messmates,  merely  by  accident,  I  should  say  here  is  a  crown  apiece 
for  you,  and  you  are  free  ;  do  that,  your  honor,  and  then  you  will  bu 
acting  like  a  man." 

"  Well,  well,"  s^id  the  governor,  impatiently,  "I  will  consider   mon 
maturely  of  your  wishes      At  any  rate,  wait  till  to-morrow,  and  ya« 


76  TOM   TRUCK  ;    OB, 

shall  be  free ;  Dut,  oh,  promise  to  assist  mc  in  endeavoring  to  disoorei 
my  child." 

"  I  will  not  bidge  an  inch  from  this  spot,"  said  Martin,  resolutely, 
'•  unless  at  the  same  time  you  release  at  least  one  of  my  companions— 
a  lad  for  whom  I  have  a  particular  regard,  and  whom  I  am  certain 
would  break  his  heart,  if  he  were  left  unprotected  by  me.' 

The  governor  again  hesitated,  and  at  last  assented,  but  persuaded 
Martin  to  delay  his  departure  until  the  next  day,  as  it  would  be  nece£» 
sary  for  him  to  mention  his  case  to  the  higher  authorities  before  he 
could  liberate  him.  With  this  request  Martin  very  reluctantly  com- 
plied— uod  the  governor,  giving  instructions  to  his  lieutenant  to  watch 
closely  over  the  prisoners  while  they  were  allowed  to  walk  in  the  yard, 
left  him. 

Martin  was  now  anxious  to  see  his  youthful  messmate,  to  apprise  him 
of  his  good  fortune,  and  accordingly  called  him  forward.  Selina  obeyed, 
and  Martin  greeted  her  with  his  usual  kindness. 

''  I  have  often  wondered,"  he  said,  "  how  they  came  to  make  such  a 
stripling  as  you  a  sailor.  Why,  your  voice  is  as  soft  as  a  girl's ;  and 
your  figure — aye,  by  my  topsails,  talking  of  that,  my  young  spark,  let 
me  take  a  nearer  view  of  your  vessel." 

Selina  blushed  and  trembled,  while  Martin,  with  a  significant  leer, 
walked  around  her,  and  took  a  more  minute  survey  of  her  person. 

"  Wheugh  !"  exclaimed  Martin,  twisting  his  quid,  "  I  begin  to  sus- 
pect." 

"  Suspect  what  ?"  demanded  the  damsel,  with  much  emotion. 

Martin  whispered  in  her  ear  ;  Selina  turned  pale,  but  after  a  few 
minutes'  hesitation,  she  said  : 

"  Yes,  indeed  you  are  right — I  am  a  woman ;  but  now  you  have  my 
jecret,  do  not,  oh  do  not  betray  me." 

"  No,  my  little  beauty,"  said  Martin,  "  that  I  never  will.  Charlei 
Jackson  will  retain  your  secret,  and  continue  to  respect  you.  But 
whatever,  my  pretty  lass,  could  induce  you  to  turn  sailor?" 

"  It  was  to  save  one  whom  I  sincerely  loved,  from  a  plot  luid  by  a 
villain  against  him,"  answered  Selina;  "  but  you  shall  know  more  anon  ; 
at  present,  be  assured  that  I  esteem  you  as  a  brother,  for  tie  kindness 
you  have  ever  shown  towards  me." 

"  Well  said,  my  young  spark,"  remarked  Martin  ;  '=  and  when  Charles 
Jackson  shall  cease  to  act  like  a  man,  especially  towards  a  pretty 
woman,  may  he  founder  in  the  ocean  of  misfortune.  But  give  us  jovt 
fin,  my  little  beauty." 

With  that,  Martin,  in  his  honeet^  rough  manner,  grasped  the  deli<»HU 


THH    WIZARD   CKEW.  77 

little  hand  of  Selina  with  a  firmness  that  brought  the  tears  in  her  oyni, 
and  then,  telling  her  of  all  that  had  taken  place  between  him  and  the 
governor,  desired  her  for  the  present  to  retire.     Selina  obeyed. 

Jeremy  Supple,  having  by  some  means  or  other  got  on  board  the 
Britannia,  and  lurking  about  the  French  coast,  was  taken  for  a  spy  and 
brought  in  before  the  governor.  He  was  now  taken  before  Martin,  who, 
recognizing  him,  smoked  him  sarcastically  on  his  misfortune,  and  told 
him  he  was  sure  to  be  hanged.  We  need  not  attempt  to  describe  the 
alarm  of  poor  Jeremy  ;  suffice  it  to  say,  his  terror  was  so  excessive  that 
it  was  not  without  the  greatest  difficulty  he  could  support  himself — 
while,  at  the  same  time,  he  ardently  implored  Martin  to  intercede  for 
him  with  the  governor. 

In  the  course  of  conversation,  Jeremy  related  all  the  particulars  of 
his  meeting  with  Mabel ;  the  plot  that  had  been  devised  to  impress 
James  Heartwin  ;  and  the  generous  sacrifice  Selina  had  made  to  save 
her  lover  ;  and  the  fact,  also,  of  her  being  taken  on  board  the  Britannia 
instead  of  James. 

The  name  struck  like  an  electric  shock  on  the  heart  of  Martin,  and 
he  looked  at  the  simple  Jeremy  with  the  utmost  anxiety  and  impa- 
tience, as  he  demanded  : 

"  Selina  Roseberry,  did  you  say  ^  Tell  me,  was  that  the  name  of  the 
pretty  damsel  whom  you  have  described  to  have  acted  in  such  a  heroic 
manner?  Speak  quick,  for  my  heart  is  aground  until  I  receive  your 
answer." 

"  I  tell  3'ou  that  was  the  name  of  the  damsel,"  replied  Jeremy  ;  "  and 
ehe  was  the  prettiest  maiden  in  all  Yarmouth." 

"  Shiver  my  topsails  ! — could  it  be  V  cried  the  sailor,  his  heart  beat- 
ing at  double  its  usual  pace ;  "  say,  should  you  know  her  if  you  were  to 
see  her  ?" 

"  Sliould  I  know  her?"  repeated  Jeremy,  "I  should  think  I  would, 
too." 

"Then  we  will  soon  know  all  about  this,"  exclaimed  i^Iartin.  "  Hil- 
loa,  there  !"  he  bawled,  at  the  very  top  of  his  voice;  and  Selina,  at  tho 
well-known  summons,  rushed  from  the  prison  into  the  yard.  In  a  mo- 
ment she  recognized  Jeremy,  and  uttered  a  cry  of  astonishment,  who 
at  the  same  time  said  : 

"  Ah,  it  is — it  is  Selina  Roseberry." 

What  language  could  do  adequate  justice  to  the  feelings  which  now 
Look  possession  of  ihe  heart  of  Martin,  who  strained  his  eyes  in  gazlnf 
with  the  most  unbounded  delight  upon  features  so  well  remembered  — 
features  on  which  he  had  evef  looked  with  transport,  but  which  he  had 


78  TOM    TlvUCK  :    OK 

aluiost  feared  he  should  never  behold  agtiin.  Miirtin's  career  had  been 
a  hazardous  one;  he  had  for  years  endured  all  the  perils  and  dangers 
of  the  ocean,  the  battle,  and  the  breeze  ;  he  had  been  several  times 
wounded  ;  and,  at  the  very  time  he  was  expecting  to  be  paid  off.  so  that 
he  might  return  to  his  native  land  and  once  more  press  his  darling  sis- 
ter to  his  heart,  some  accident  had  never  failed  to  occur  to  prevent  it 
and  to  send  him  off  to  meet  the  dangers  of  the  deep  once  more. 

"Solina  Roseberry,"  at  length  he  said,  rushing  to  her  with  frantio 
delight  and  enfolding  her  in  his  arras,  "  ray  sister,  ray  dear  little  sister  1" 

Astonishment  for  a  moment  prevented  the  damsel  from  giving  utter- 
ance to  a  syllable,  but  at  last  she  exclaimed  :  1 

"What  mean  your  words?  I  can  scarcely  dare  trust  myself  with 
such  a  blissful  assurance  ;  and  yet,  now  I  gaze  more  steadfastly  upon 
you,  all  the  scenes  of  my  childhood  rush  vividly  to  my  memory." 

'•  Ah,"  exclaimed  Martin,  "  it  is  not  pos.sible  that  you  can  ever  forget 
them." 

"  Is  it  possible,"  demanded  Sellna,  "  that  your  name,  then,  is  not 
Cliarles  Jackson  ?" 

"  No,  no,"  answered  the  tar,  hastily,  "  that  was  an  assumed  t.ame ; 
I  am  Martin  Roseberry,  your  brother,  who  used  to  carry  you,  when  a 
pretty  little  golden-haired  child,  to  gather  the  shells  on  the  sea-beach. 
My  sister  !  my  dear  little  Selina  !" 

Fain  would  we  describe  the  scene  of  mutual  transport  consequent 
upon  the  extraordinary  and  unexpected  meeting  of  the  brother  and 
sister,  but  find  it  would  take  a  far  more  eloquent  pen  than  ours  to  do 
so  properly.  They  wept  tears  of  joy,  and  remained  locked  in  each 
other's  arms  for  several  minutes.  Witli  what  sentiments  of  admiration 
and  transport  did  Martin  dwell  upon  every  lineament  of  the  lovely 
countenance  of  his  sister,  and  recall  to  his  mind  the  peaceful  joy  of 
former  days.  Ilis  joy  was  now  complete;  ;iiid  although  his  bosom 
swelled  witli  feelings  of  honest  indignation  airaiiist  Sir  William  Pledger, 
he  could  not  help  blessing  the  accident  that  had  brought  about  such 
remarkable  events,  and  been  the  means  of  restoring  him  to  tlie  arms  of 
a  beloved  sister,  from  whom  he  had  been  so  long  separated,  and  whom 
he  had  begun  to  fear  Providence  had  ordained  that  he  st ould  never 
behold  again. 

On  the  evening  when  these  events  took  place,  the  governor  had  ap- 
pointed to  have  a  small  festival  in  the  prison-yard,  and  on  that  occasion 
all  the  prisoners  were  to  be  allowed  to  partake  of  the  entertainments. 
Lamort  and  Lanfranc,  the  two  desertsrs  we  have  before  spoken  of,  had 
formed  a  villanous  design  to  put  poison  in  the  gOTcrnor's  wirio.  &d(] 


THE    WIZARD   CEETT.  79 

thus  to  gratify  a  feeling  of  tbe  most  deadly  revenge.  Martin  and  hia 
aister  overheard  their  plot,  and,  while  they  were  filled  with  horror  and 
disgust,  they  determined  by  some  means  to  frustrate  the  diabolical 
plans  of  the  miscreants. 

The  evening  passed  away  merrily,  and  little  could  any  one  have  sus- 
pected the  dark  design  at  that  very  time  lurking  in  the  breasts  of  Lan- 
franc  &nd  his  companion. 

The  time  approached,  and  the  two  wretches  seized  the  opportunity 
of  putting  the  poison  into  one  of  the  wine-bottles,  and  were  all  the  tinio 
narrowly  watched  by  Martin  and  Selina. 

The  governor  and  his  friends  now  approached,  and  prepared  to  set 
themselves  at  the  table.  In  the  meantime,  Martin  seized  an  oppoi^u- 
nity  to  secure  the  bottle  that  contained  the  poisonous  drug,  and,  after 
the  governor  and  his  friends  had  drank,  he  exclaimed  to  Lamort  and 
his  companion  : 

"  Come,  comrades,  let  us  all  be  sociable  together  !     Drink  1  drink  !" 

Lamort,  never  suspecting  that  anything  was  wrong,  immediately  took 
the  proffered  glass,  and,  raising  it  to  his  lips,  quaffed  off  the  whole  of 
the  contents.  In  a  moment  his  features  assumed  a  livid  and  ghastly 
appearance,  his  eyes  rolled  with  frightful  fury,  and,  with  one  horribla 
groan,  he  fell  dead  upon  the  earth. 

"What  is  the  meaning  of  this?"  demanded  the  astonished  governor. 

"Why,  the  meaning  is,  your  honor."  answered  Martin,  "  that  these 
two  fellows  had  formed  a  plot  to  murder  you.  I  overheard  them,  and 
have  thus  been  the  fortunate  means  of  saving  you  from  a  terrible 
death.  Behold  1"  he  continued,  seizing  Laufranc,  and  tearing  the 
phial  containing  tVc  poison  from  his  bosom,  or  at  least  what  remained 
of  it. 

Nothing  could  surpass  the  astonishment  and  horror  of  the  governor, 
excepting  the  feelings  of  unbounded  gratitude  he  experienced  towards 
Martin  Roseberry  for  the  service  he  had  rendered  him.  He  pressed 
his  hand  vehemently,  and  then  vowed  to  be  his  friend  as  long  as  he' 
Jived. 

"  As  to  that,  your  honor,"  answered  Martin.  '•  I  shall  be  most  happ  " 
to  be  considered  worthy  of  your  good  opinion,  although  1  have  only 
done  ttat  which  every  man,  and  every  true  Briti.sh  seaman,  would 
do — namely,  saved  tbe  life  of  an  enemy,  when  attacked  in  a  cowardly 
manner." 

"  You're  a  brave  fellow,  a  noble  fellow,"  enthusiastically  exclaimed 
the  governor,  still  most  cordially  pressing  his  hand.  Ho  then  ordered 
the  body  nf  Laraort  to  be  taken  away,  and  Lanfranc  to  be  immediateJj 


so  TOM   TRUCK  ;    OE, 

secureil  and  jjJaced  in  confinement.  But  ere  tliej'  could  i)  this,  tie 
ruffian  burs*  from  the  hands  of  the  guard  who  had  taken  him  into 
custody,  and  drawing  a  pistol  from  his  bosom,  presented  it  at  Jkctr..^ 
and  fired.  Most  happily,  however,  for  the  brave  seaman,  it  missed  iti 
ijiark,  and  the  miscreant  was  dragged  to  a  dungeon,  amid  the  execra 
tioiis  of  all  present. 

In  the  midst  of  the  confusion  which  these  events  had  excited,  the 
governor's  lieutenant  made  his  appearance  in  great  haste,  to  inform  him 
that  the  crew  of  the  Britannia  had  made  their  way  into  the  fortress, 
and  were  dealing  destruction  to  all  around  them. 

Before  the  governor  had  time  to  express  his  emotion,  loud  reports  of 
cannon  reached  his  ears,  and  the  next  moment  the  walls  of  the  fortress 
were  blown  down  with  a  loud  crash,  and  the  brave  tars  of  the  Britan- 
nia entered  with  loud  shouts  of  triumph.  Martin  no  sooner  beheld  his 
gallimt  messmates,  than  seizing  a  cutlass  from  one  of  the  enemy,  he 
rushed  to  join  thera  in  the  affray. 

The  conflict  was  brief  but  desperate,  while  it  lasted ;  the  fortress 
was  taken,  and  the  governor  and  his  men  were  placed  in  the  power  of 
their  heroic  enemies — thus  showing  the  never-failing  success  attendant 
upon  true  valor  and  determination. 

•  •**•••• 

Once  more  we  must  direct  the  reader's  attention  to  Folkestone,  and 
pass  over  an  interval  of  several  months,  during  which  time  peace  had 
})een  proclaimed  between  France  and  Great  Britain,  and  Martin  and 
his  pretty  sister  had  returned  to  their  native  shore.  It  was  a  happy 
moment  for  them  when  the  white  cliffs  of  England  met  their  gaze,  and 
they  were  unbounded  in  their  gratitude  to  Heaven  for  Uie  protection  it 
had  afforded  them  through  so  many  dangers  and  vicissitudes. 

To  England,  also,  had  hastened  Colonel  de  la  Garde,  in  sear^-  o^ 
his  lost  daughter,  and  much  was  the  anxiety,  the  doubts,  and  fears  ue 
alternately  endured  to  know  what  had  leen  her  fate,  or  if  he  should 
ever  behold  her  again. 

He  was  accompanied  by  Jeremy  Supple,  who  had  elicited  from  hiin 
that  his  daughter  was  no  other  than  Mabel,  and  Sir  Williiim  Pledgor 
was  tlie  villain  who  had  seduced  her  from  her  home  and  the  amis  of 
her  father.  This  knowledge  that  worthy  determined  to  turn  to  some 
account. 

Sir  William  Pledger,  who  was  soon  made  acquainted  with  the  return 
of  Selina,  still  longed  to  possess  her.  During  her  absence  his  desires 
had  increased  rather  than  abated,  and  he  now  resolved  to  let  no  oppor- 
Itiuity  slip  to  get  her  into  his  power.     The  c'rcumstauce  of  her  brotbef 


THE    WIZAKD    CREW.  ft^ 

returning  with  her,  presented  an  obstacle,  but  at  length  he  inventcfJ  a 
scheme  to  obtain  the  darling  object  of  his  wishes,  that  only  the  mind 
of  a  most  heartless  villain  could  concoct. 

In  order  to  further  these  diabolical  plans,  he  sought  one  Bobby  Crick, 
as  he  was  familiarly  called,  who  had  on  former  occasions  rendered  him- 
self a  ready  instrument  of  his  vices,  and  by  the  oBFer  of  a  large  reward, 
tempted  him  to  place  a  case  of  jewel's  in  Selina's  box,  so  that  he  might 
accuse  her  of  robbing  him. 

This  stratagem,  he  imagined,  could  not  fail  of  success,  as  Solina  had 
been  in  the  habit  of  visiting  a  servant  maid  in  his  house,  and  whom  he 
having  seduced,  was  ready,  for  money,  to  swear  to  anything  her  villa- 
nous  master  proposed  to  her. 

Sir  William,  as  may  be  imagined,  designed  not  to  punish  Selina ; 
oh,  no  ;  that  would  have  been  to  deprive  him  of  all  his  hopes  of 
triumphing  over  her  innocence;  he,  Iiowever,  thought  that  b}-  holding 
out  to  her  a  promise  not  to  prosecute,  he  might  induce  her  to  become 
his  mistress,  and  thus  all  his  long-formed  wishes  would  be  gratified. 

He  thought  that  the  dread  of  shame  and  punishment  would  prevail 
on  her  to  accept  any  offers  which  might  afford  her  a  chance  of  escape, 
and  he  therefore  resolved  to  promise  to  pardon  her,  if  she  would  yield 
to  his  infernal  proposals.  But  little  did  the  miscreant  know  of  the  real 
and  spotless  character  of  that  beauteous  and  virtuous  girl,  to  entertain 
for  a  moment  such  a  base  idea. 

Mr.  Crick  heard  the  propositions  of  Sir  William  with  much  attention, 
shook  his  head,  and  hesitated.  Crafty  and  designing,  he  knew  well 
how  to  deal  with  the  guilty  baronet,  and  resolved  to  pay  himself  well 
for  the  task  he  was  wanted  to  perform. 

"Why  do  you  pause?"  demanded  Sir  William,  with  a  iook  of  im- 
patience ;  "  do  you  fear  to  do  that  which  I  desire  of  you  ?" 

"  Why,  wh}' — you  see,  Sir  William,"  Bobby  faltered  out ;  '•  I -" 

"  Bah  I"  interrupted  Sir  William  ;  "  any  one  would  imagine,  to  hear 
you,  that  you  had  never  been  guilty  of  anything  wrong.  This  is  not 
the  first  time  you  have  been  employed  by  me,  and  I  consider  that  I 
have  been  the  best  friend  you  ever  had." 

"  Very  true,  sir,"  said  the  fellow ;  '•  but  then  you  know  that  this  is  a 
very  dangerous  piece  of  business." 

"  Dangerous  !"  repeated  Sir  William.  "  Why  mere  dangerous  than 
that  you  have  before  been  concerned  in  ?  What  suspicion  can  be 
attached  to  you  ?" 

"That  may  be  all  very  true,  Sir  William,"  returned  Crick;  "but 
then " 


82  TOM    IRUCK  ;    OR, 

"  I  see  tlio  reason  of  ^lour  hesitation,"  said  the  baronet ;  '•  jou  h%7H 
not  yet  been  made  acquaicted  with  the  sum  I  am  ready  to  give  you  for 
your  trouble.     Perhaps  twenty  guines  may  satisfy  you  ?" 

Crick  opened  his  ears  eagerly,  and  his  scruples,  if  he  ever  entertained 
a,ny,  were  immediately  done  away  with.  He  quickly  agreed  and 
departed  from  the  house. 

He  had  only  just  left  the  presence  of  Sir  William,  when  the  door  was 
thrown  open,  and  Mabel  entering  the  room,  confronted  the  baronet. 
Madness  and  sorrow  had  so  altered  her  once  blooming  features,  that  it 
was  almost  impossible  for  any  one  who  had  known  her  in  her  former 
days  to  recognize  her  now.  Notwithstanding,  Sir  William  could  not 
help  feeling  the  most  violent  emotion  :  at  length  having  partly  recov- 
ered himself,  he  demanded  who  she  was,  arid  for  what  purpose  she  had 
thus  boldly  dared  to  obtrude  herself  upon  him. 

"  You  do  not  know  me.  Sir  William  Pledger,"  said  Mabel,  with  a 
wild  and  melancholy  laugh  ;  "  no  wonder,  no  wonder — seeing  how  time 
has  changed  the  features  of  one  wlio  once  was  fair,  once  was  lovely  and 
innocent.  It  is  well  for  the  guilty  seducer,  if  his  conscience  can  so 
sleep,  that  he  remembers  not  his  unfortunate  victim — if  he  can  forget 
the  days  when  she  was  happy  in  her  native  home,  and  treasured  in  a 
fond  father's  bosom — that  state  of  peace  and  serenity  from  which  he 
enticed  her,  under  the  most  specious  promises,  and  by  the  most  allur- 
ing vows.  Would,  oh,  would  that  my  memory  was  as  weak  ;  oh,  it  is  a 
gcod  thing  to  forget !" 

"  Woman,"  said  Sir  William,  "  what  means  this  wild  jargon  ?  what 
would  you  have  of  me  ?" 

"  Listen."  answered  Mabel,  advancing  nearer  to  him,  and  placing  her 
hand  on  his  arm,  at  the  same  time  she  fixed  her  e3'es  upon  his  counte- 
nance, with  such  an  expression  that  made  him  shudder  innately  ;  "listen, 
Sir  William  Pledger,  I  have  that  for  your  ear  which  may  serve  pcrhapa 
to  recall  your  wandering  recollection." 

She  then  sang,  in  tones  of  melancholy  plaintivencss,  the  fcUowing 
fforde ; 

"  Believe,  though  I  may  wander  far, 

Far  over  land  and  wave, 
I  swear  by  yonder  twinkling  star, 

None  shall  my  heart  enslave 
But  her  whose  blushing  cheeks  I  kiss 

With  pearly  moisture  wet : 
By  all  uiy  future  hopes  of  blisf, 

I  ii«T«r  will  forget !" 


THE    WIZAUD    CKEW.  S3 

The  mist  was  low  banished  from  the  eyes  of  the  guilt}-  Sir  William  j 
his  heart  palpitated  violently  ;  he  knew  her  immediately  ;  the  tczes  of 
her  voice  struck  upon  his  conscience,  while  the  words  of  the  song 
recalled  to  his  memory  a  dark  tale  of  the  treachery  and  cruelty  that 
smote  him  with  remorse.  It  was  the  same  song  with  which,  in  the 
days  when  she  thought  he  loved  her,  he  hud  so  often  sung  to  her. 

'•Mabel!  Mabel!"  cried  the  conscience-stricken  baronet,  advancing 
towards  her. 

"Nay,  stand  off!  approach  me  not,"  said  Mabel,  advancing  towards 
the  door  by  which  she  had  entered;  "thy  look  is  contamination! 
Mabel  has  performed  her  errand  ;  she  has  revealed  herself  to  thee,  and 
made  thy  dastard,  guilty  soul  tremble  ;  and  now  she  leaves  thee  with  her 
Dittcrest  curse." 

Thus  saying,  before  the  baronet  could  offer  to  move,  she  quitted  the 
room,  and  left  him  to  his  own  reflections.  We  need  .not  attempt  to 
portray  them.  For  a  few  moments  he  could  not  believe  the  evidence 
of  his  senses,  and  wondered  how  he  could  have  seen  Mabel  so  fiequently 
before  without  being  able  to  recognize  her;  but  at  length  he  threw 
himself  into  a  chair,  and,  by  reflection,  endeavored  to  compose  his  feel- 
ings. 

Mabel,  overcome  by  her  frenzied  emotions,  and  the  exertion  she  had 
undergone  iu  her  brief  interview  with  her  cruel  seducer,  rushed  wildly 
acfoss  the  garden,  and  entered  the  fields  beyond,  where,  unable  to  sup- 
port herself  any  longer,  she  sunk  insensible  on  the  earth. 

At  this  moment  Providence  directed  the  footsteps  of  Geneiul  de  la 
Garde  and  Jeremy  Supple  to  the  same  spot.  Beholding  a  female  on 
the  earth,  appearing  dead  or  dying,  Jeremy  hastened  to  the  neighboring 
village  to  fetch  a  doctor. 

The  governor,  whose  sympathy  was  greatly  excited,  now  raised  the 
poor  girl  in  his  arms,  and  she  slowly  recovered  her  senses,  and  opened 
her  eyes. 

"  Where  am  I  ?"  she  said  ;  "  where  ia  he,  the  villain,  the  monster, 
who " 

"  Ah  ! '  suddenly  exclaimed  the  governor,  in  a  slate  of  great  agita- 
tion ;  •'  that  voice — those  tones  are  familiar  to  my  cars.  Let  me  look 
%t  you  more  narrowly." 

He  parted  the  hair  from  her  forehead,  and  gazed  more  intensely  into 
her  countenance  ;  Mabel  looked  up  into  his  face  ;  they  knew  each  other 
immediately,  and  with  cries  of  transport,  they  fondly  embraced. 

In  the  EueaQtime,  while  these  events  were  going  on,  all  was  hap;  inesa 


S4  TOM  rnucK  ;  oe, 

6t  the  cottage  of  Goody  Molloy.  It  may  be  necessary  to  give  some  brie/ 
particulars  of  James  Heartwin.  who,  after  the  disappearance  of  Selina. 
was  truly  wretched,  and  the  more  so  as  he  was  without  the  means  of 
rescuing  her  ;  from  his  connection  with  the  smugglers,  he  feared  to  make 
any  complaint  to  the  proper  quarters,  and  although  he  vowed  at  sciix 
future  period  to  be  revenged  on  Sir  Willaini  Pledger,  he  knew  his  power 
too  well  for  the  present  to  make  the  slightest  attempt  of  the  kind.  In 
this  manner  months  passed  away,  but  what  language  can  sufficntly  de- 
picture the  delight  he  experienced  when  Selina  was  restored  to  him, 
and  he  learned  from  her  own  lips  that  she  loved  him,  if  possible,  more 
fondly  than  ever  !  Nothing  could  surpass  the  satisfaction  Martin  felt 
at  the  choice  Selina  had  made.  James  had  abandoned  his  former  asso- 
ciates, and  his  father  having  lately  died,  had  left  him  a  farm  and  a 
little  annuity.  There  was  nothing  then  to  prevent  the  union  of  tho 
lovers,  and  a  day  had  already  been  fixed,  to  which  they  all  looked  for- 
ward with  the  most  anxious  anticipations. 

On  the  evening  when  Mabel  and  her  father  had  encountered  eacu 
other,  Martin,  James,  and  Selina  were  all  at  the  cottage  of  Groodjr 
Molloy,  and  were  getting  very  merry  together,  when  suddenly  there 
was  a  loud  knocking  at  tijo  door,  and  Bobby  Crick,  at  the  head  of  a 
))Osse  of  men,  entered.  He  quickly  told  his  business,  namely,  that  Sir 
William  had  been  robbed  of  a  case  of  jev/cls,  and  he  suspected  Selina 
of  committing  the  theft,  from  Iut  well  known  intimacy  with  Jane,  his 
.servant;  and  Bobby,  therefore,  being  vested  with  ■  a  little  briof  au- 
thority,' had,  as  they  might  infer  from  tlic  men  he  had  with  him,  cojue 
to  search  the  cottage. 

It  would  be  a  useless  task  for  us  to  attempt  to  describe  the  shame 
horror,  and  indignation  of  all  present,  at  this  most  infamous  and  pre- 
posterous charge  ;  and  Martin  and  James,  rising  from  their  scats,  would 
have  immediately  used  forcible  means  to  eject  Bobby  and  his  companions 
from  the  cottage,  had  it  not  been  for  the  interposition  of  Selina.  Con- 
scious innocence  supported  her  throughout  tlie  whole  of  the  trying 
scene,  and  giving  the  key  of  her  box  to  Crick,  she  said  : 

"  This  charge,  brutal  as  it  is,  is  almost  too  absurd  and  contemptible 
for  serious  notice  ;  it  is  well  worthy  of  the  man  from  wliom  it  ema- 
nates ;  however, restrain  your  indignation,  my  brother  and  James;  this 
scheme  will  but  recoil  upon  the  guilty,  and  Selina  will  be  able  to  laugh 
to  scorn  tte  attempt  made  to  injure  her  character." 

'"  Shiver  my  topsails  1"  cried  Martin  ;  "  but  I  will  teach  the  lubber, 
Sir  William  whatdo-you-call-him,  that  however  much  bo  may  think  tc 


THE   WIZARD   CREW.  85 

trample  and  crush  us  benoath  his  feet,  hia  station  shall  not  protect  biro 
from  retribution.  Justice  shall  be  done,  and  this  turn  out  to  be  one  of 
the  dearest  tricks  he  has  ever  played.  My  sister  Selina  a  thief 
d e  !  the  word  almost  chokes  me.     I " 

Selina  again  interrupted  her  enraged  brother,  and  with  the  utmost 
indifference  desired  Bobby  to  proceed  immediately  with  the  search,  and 
satisfy  himself  as  to  the  truth  of  his  allegations. 

Crick  proceeded  to  unlock  the  box,  and  watching  his  opportunity,  he 
filily  placed  the  casket  of  jewels  underneath  some  of  the  poor  girl's- 
wearing  apparel.  He  now  pretended  to  examine  the  contents  of  the 
box  more  narrowly,  and  at  length  coming  to  the  jewels,  he  held  them- 
up  before  the  gaze  of  all,  and  then  said  : 

"  Miss  Roseberry,  you  may  protest  your  innocence,  but  pray,  after- 
this  discovery,  how  can  you  answer  to  the  serious  charge  brought  against 


you 


?" 


Selina  gazed  at  the  casket  aghast,  and  for  a  few  moments^  horror  and' 
etupefaction  completely  spell-bound  every  one  present. 

"It  is  a  monstrous  stratagem,  after  all,"  at  length  exclaimed  Martin^ 
''  can  any  one  believe  so  ridiculous  an  accusation  ?" 

"  You  may  call  it  ridiculous,  Mr.  Roseberry,"  returned  Crick  ;  "but 
I  am  afraid  you  will  find  it  much  more  serious  than  you  seem  at  pres«- 
eut  to  think  It  is  my  duty  to  take  this  unfortunate  young  woman  intO' 
custody." 

"  May  I  never  go  aloft,"  cried  Martin,  chenching  his  fist,  and  ad- 
vancing towards  Click,  "  if  you  attempt  to  lay  a  finger  upon  this  poor, 
innocent  girl,  I  will  scuttle  your  figure  head,  in  the  turning  of  a  marlin- 
Bpike." 

"  Ruffian,  begone  I"  exclaimed  James  Heartwiu,  his  eyes  flashing- 
with  indignation,  '■  or  — ' — " 

i'  Hold,  both  of  you,  I  command  you,  as  you  value  my  love,"  firmly 
interrupted  Selina  ;  "  I  fear  not  the  malice  of  my  enemies  ;  conscious  of 
my  own  innocence,  I  do  not  despair  of  being  fully  able  to  rebut  this 
infamous  charge,  and  obtaining  justice  for  the  injury  that  is  attempted 
to  be  done  me." 

"  The  young  woman  must  accompany  me  before  a  justice,"  remarked 
Crick ;  "  and  you  know  it  is  no  use  attempting  to  reaist  the  law.  I 
cannot  help  it  I  am  sorry  for  it ;  but  the  whole  of  it  is,  that  duty  is- 
duty,  and  I  must  perform  it." 

Martin  and  James  turned  upon  him  a  look  of  contempt,  and  then,  ii& 
»he  most  distracted  manner,  they  proceeded  to  accompany  the  unfortib- 


86  TOM   TliDC-K  :    OE^ 

Date  .^elina  tc  the  bouse  of  a  tiiagistrate.  the  clamt.el,  on  the  way,  coiitiB> 
uing  to  support  herself  with  the  most  astonishing  fortitude  under  thia 
despicable  attempt  to  convict  her  of  so  great  a  crime. 

The  examination  having  taken  place,  the  magistrate  remanded  Selina 
till  a  future  day,  in  consequence  of  the  absence  of  Sir  William  Pledger, 
who  had  not  yet  sufficiently  obtained  firmness  and  effrontery  to  meet 
the  gaze  of  the  innocent  accused. 

The  parting  that  took  place  between  Selina,  her  lover,  and  Martin, 
was  of  the  most  affecting  character,  and  the  two  latter  returned  home 
in  great  agony  of  mind  ;  in  fact  never  before  had  they  experienced  such 
mental  suffering. 

The  villain,  Sir  William  Pledger,  was  seated  in  his  study  the  day 
after  these  events,  when  he  was  interrupted  in  the  midst  of  the  medita- 
tions he  was  indulging  in,  by  the  appearance  of  a  servant,  who  informed 
jiim  that  a  man  below  demanded  an  interview  with  him. 

"Demand!"  repeated  the  baronet,  with  a  haughty  frown  ;  '  this  is 
i-Tftthsr  bold,  methinks.     Did  he  not  mention  his  name?" 

";Se  did,  sir,"  answered  the  servant ;  "  he  called  himself  Martin 
i^Roseberry." 

"  Ah  !"  ezclaimed  Sir  William,  somewhat  alarmed,  the  brother  of 

I  the  girl  suspected  of Tell  him  I  cannot  see  him." 

The  servan-t  departed  with  that  message,  and  the  baronet  waited  with 
.  some  anxiety  to  liear  the  result.      He  was  not  long  kept  in   suspense. 
;  Presently  he  heard  a  loud  noise  below,  and   before   he   could   recover 
himself,' Martin  stood  before  him. 

We  will  pass  over  wliat  took  place  at  the  meeting,  with  the  exception 
.  of  stating  that  it  was  one  of  the  warmest  description.     Martin  bitterly 
reproached   Sir,  William  with   his  villany  and   cruelty,  and  the  baronet 
1  replied  with  equal  acrimony,  and  at  length  summoned  several  of  his  ser- 
vants.    After  much  difficulty  Martin  was  ejected  from  the  house,  vow- 
,  ing  vengeance  against  the  wrecth  who  was  endeavoring  to  bring  shamo 
and   sorrow  upon    his   head,  and   all    those  who  were   connected  with 
'  Selina. 

The  day  that  had  been  set  apart  for  the  examination  of  Selina  at 
length  lurived,  and  SirW'iUifim,  in  order  to  further  tho  tjcfariuus  pro- 
jects he  had  in  view,  had  sent  to  a  magistrate  residing  in  the  district, 
who  was  a  friend  of  his,  requesting  that  he  would  conduct  *.Iie  proceed- 
ings Mr.  Rivington,  however,  was  taken  ill,  and  unable  to  ?ttend  ;  but 
he  had  sent  another  gentleman  in  his  place,  who  was  also,  a."  be  said,  a 
;  brother   magistrate.      The   individual   was   a  remarkably   t%ll  msn, 


THE    WIZAED   CfSEW  87 

envelop  \1  in  a  long  black  u.aatle,  that  descoudei  to  Lis  tect,  and 
entirely  ricvcealod  his  form.  His  features  were  very  handsome  and 
there  wao  s-^ething  in  thera  that  made  Sir  William  tremble  when  he 
gazed  upon  l^em.  The  examination  was  proceeded  with  ;  every  cir- 
cumstance was  elated  with  the  most  aggravating  minuteness.  When 
Bobby  Crick  waj  asked  whether  he  saw  the  jewels  in  Selina's  box,  he 
laconically  replied  \n  the  affirmative. 

"  And  do  you  kL.i's^-  who  placed  them  there?"  inquired  the  magis- 
trate. 

"  I  did,"  answered  Btbby 

Sir  William  turned  d^-xdly  pale,  and  was  completely  astounded  at 
this  unexpected  answer. 

"  I  did,"  repeated  Bobby,  "  I  have  earned  so  little  by  being  guilty, 
that  I'm  going  to  try  what  efl.,'t  doing  good  will  have  on  me.  I  put  the 
jewels  into  Selina  Roseberry'a  hex,  by  order  of  Sir  William,  in  order 
that  he  mightget  her  accused  af  I'.bbery." 

''  'Tis  a  base  calumny  !"  exclaimf3  the  baronet. 

"  Liar  !"  cried  the  supposed  nagirtrate,  rising  with  great  dignity 
from  his  seat.  '•  Friends,  listen  while  T  unmask  this  traitor  to  ye  all. 
There  were  two  brothers  by  the  sam3  fatVor,  who  was  wealthy  and  lord 
of  these  estates.  One  was  called  Gerard  Pledger,  the  other  William. 
Gerard,  the  eldest,  was  good  and  aaiiable  j  William  was  base  and  envi- 
ous. They  grew  up.  William  coveted  the  wealth  to  which  his  brothox 
was  heir.  He  formed  a  cruel  plot  to  destvoy  hira  ;  he  had  him  secretly 
seized,  and  conveyed  on  board  a  vessel  bound  for  India,  where  he 
ordered  him  to  be  murdered  ;  but  he  escaped,  and  he  now  returns  to 
claim  those  rights  of  which  this  villain  hath  plundered  him." 

■•  False — false  as  belli"  exclaimed  Sir  William. 

"'Tis  true,"  returned  the  gentleman,  '•  and  your  coward  conscience 
acknowledges  that  it  is  so.  Behold,  your  brother  Gerard  stands  before 
^ou  !  Begone,  sir,  from  that  roof  you  have  long  disgraced  by  your 
presence  ;  resign  that  wealth  you  have  unlawfully  baaked  in,  and  thank 
nay  mercy  that  I  do  not  punish  your  perfidy." 

Sir  William,  apparently  abashed,  rushed  from  the  chamber,  but  had 
not  been  gone  many  minutes,  when  he  returned  with  a  number  of 
Bmuggler,  all  well  armed,  who  surrounded  Gerard  and  the  rest,  and 
threatened  destruction.  In  the  meantime,  however,  Mart[n.  who  had 
watched  the  behaviour  of  Sir  William,  and  suspected  bis  M^tentions, 
had  made  his  way  to  the  ship,  and  brought  a  number  of  b.s  '  ■»<!  mates 
io  the  house.     A  smart  ccntest  now  ensued,  in  which   S.'t    \'.':l  \an 


88 


TOM    muCK  ;    OBf 


reeeirod  a  mortal  wound.  The  sailors  ^  ^re  soon  triumphant,  and  awk 
of  the  smugglers  as  survived  took  flight. 

Selina  and  her  brother  found  an  excellent  friend  in  Gerard  Pledger, 
and,  on  the  day  the  former  became  the  wife  of  James  Hear  twin,  he 
gave  her  a  sufficient  marriage  portion  to  render  them  independent  for 
life 

Martin  never  married,  but  retiring  from  the  sea,  he  resided  with  hia 
siBtor  and  her  husband,  and  was  never  so  happy  as  when  relating  the 
Bomerous  adventures  he  had  met  with  during  the  time  he  had  miDr 
^ed  in  th«se  exciting  scenes  upon  the  briny  deep. 


IV. 


THE  WIZABD  CSEW.  38 


BOOK    III. 


CHAPTER    I. 

ioE  maiden's   dream. 

The  pirates'  boat  "-wept  rapidly,  aa  the  arms  of  twelve  strong  in«n 
could  bear  it,  to  the  Melchor,  which  lay  just  beyond  the  point  of  land 
we  have  so  often  spoken  of — and  one  after  another  the  pirates  regained 
their  ship.  Among  the  first  to  reach  it  was  the  Unknown,  who  bore 
Isabinda  up  the  deck  in  his  own  arms,  and  hurried  with  her  into  the 
cabin.  Above,  all  was  noise  and  tuimoil — for  the  sailors  were  putting 
in  the  heavy  cable,  the  rattling  of  the  links  of  which  sounded  like  the 
jangle  of  devils'  chains ;  and  through  the  port-holes  was  seen  the  roll- 
ing of  the  waves.  On  the  deck  lay  many  treasure  boxes,  and  the  sailors 
were  busy  hoisting  the  guns  from  the  hold  to  the  open  or  flush  deck. 
It  will  be  remembered  that  the  Melchor,  except  when  at  sea,  was  forced 
always  to  assume  the  appearance  of  a  peaceable  trader,  and  that  every- 
thing like  armament  in  port  had  to  be  carefully  concealed. 

When  he  had  reached  the  cabin,  Isabinda  was  nearly  exhausted,  and 
Ihe  Unknown  pointed  to  one  of  the  boxes  which  lay  strewn  around,  and 
daid: 

"  Cheer  up  !  yours  is  a  sad  fate ;  but  fear  not.   It  is  best  to  die  young 

and  innocent,  and  not Bah  I  sit  down  and  cease  this  trembling. 

Here  you  will  be  free  from  many  things  that  would  offend  you,  young 
4nd  delicate  as  you  are — free  from  the  oaths  of  the  rude  sons  of  the 
ocean,  and  the  hopes  which  might  spring  up.  futile  as  they  are,  from 
cbe  vicinity  of  the  English  cruiser." 

**  And  is  she,  then,  near  us  ?"  said  Isabinda. 

"  They  say  she  is  the  swiftest  keel  in  their  navy,  and  she  woU  de- 
iHrres  her  name    For  seven  years  this  vessel  has  never  met  her  match ; 


00 


TOM  teuck;  OB, 


but  now  she  has  found  a  master.  Curse  on  them,  I  thought  they  were 
in  the  bar  !  There  is  no  hope,  lady,  however  brightly  your  eyes  may 
beam.  Before  I  am  taken,  I  will  blow  myself  up,  and  every  person 
on  board  of  her. 

"  Great  Heaven  !"  said  the  frantic  girl. 

"  Roll  on,  ye  waters,  and  speed  my  gallant  bark  !  Cradled  on  the 
rolling  seas,  my  life  has  passed  upon  your  bosom.  Boyhood,  the  spring- 
ing hopes  of  youth,  scorn  of  fear,  thoughts  cf  glittering  fortune — all 
have  grown  to  power  on  your  everlasting  deeps.  I  bear  with  me  that 
which  will  realize  my  soul's  most  daring  wishes : — wealth  and  beauty  ! 
Shall  the  hand  of  man  ever  wrest  them  from  me  ?  Never  !  by  the 
dark,  the  unknown  future — never  !  To  you  I  give  what  through  you 
I  have  gained." 

At  that  moment  Weevil  entered  the  cabin,  and  the  Unknown  asked 
him  : 

"  How  goes  the  chase  ?" 

"  Still  they  near  us.  Half  an  hour  since,  we  had  them  in  the  main* 
top,  but  now  she  is  hull  down,  nearly." 

"  Throw  the  other  guns  overboard,  for  we  can  fight  them,"  safd  the 
Unknown.  "  Lighten  her  and  spread  every  sail,  for  we  must  and  will 
not  be  taken." 

"  We  must  not,  sir,"  said  Weevil. 

"  We  will  not.  The  cruiser  has  not  yet  begun  to  talk.  Serve  spirits 
to  the  men.  I  will  be  on  the  deck  when  I  have  made  my  last  prepa- 
rations.    You  understand  ?" 

"  Aye,  aye  j  it  is  better  to  go  to  Davy  Jones  on  the  splitting  timbers 
of  our  vessel,  than  dangle  like  scarecrows  in  an  English-  port.  I  will 
go  on  deck." 

"  You  hear,  lady,  how  things  are  ?"  said  the  pirate. 

"  Shall  I  see  my  father  no  more?" 

"  Never,  lady  !  but  care  not — if  we  escape,  your  life  will  pass  with 
one  who  loves  you  better.  They  say  the  proud,  arch-fiend  himself  ad- 
mires virtue — and,  guilty  as  I  am,  I  love  you  with  burning  and  undy- 
ing love.     You  are  mine,  and  Death  alone  shall  part  us." 

The  noise  on  deck  increased,  and  the  pirate  went  to  one  of  the  ports. 

"  Now,  my  fair  ship,  trust  to  your  heels — for  my  last  gun  is  gone." 

The  sound  of  a  distant  gun  was  heard,  and  the  pirate  said,  "  She 
speaks.    Weevil,  show  them  the  olack  flag.     Now  for  my  last  duty  !" 

The  pirate  approached  the  magazine,  and  tcok  from  it  a  coil  of  fuse 
or  slow  match. 

"  Father  of  all,"  said  Isabinda,  "  must  I  so  young  meet  a  drf.adfuf 


tHE    .VIZAED   CREW.  07 

ieatb  ?  Must  I  so  suddenlj  plunge  from  seeming  uappiRtfis  to  th»1 
dark  state  we  tremble  so  to  contemplate  ?  Spare  me,  sir,  for  my  broken 
hearted  father's  sake,  if  indeed  he  live.  Save  me,  though,  from  per 
ishing  thus." 

The  report  of  another  gun  was  heard. 

The  Unknown  placed  one  end  of  the  coil  within  the  magazine,  ana 
said  : 

"  The  sound  is  no  nearer ;  we  may  yet  escape.  Would  that  the 
darkness  of  the  last  night  yet  hung  pall-like  about  us." 

Weevil  came  again  into  the  cabin,  and  said,  "  Still,  sir,  she  has  the 
heels  of  us." 

"  I  will  come  on  deck  ;  you  see  I  am  calm.  There  is  my  line  of 
life  I" — and  he  pointed  to  the  coil.  '•  A  terrible  coil  it  has  been,  and 
always  has  borne  within  itself  the  seeds  of  its  own  destruction." 

"  We  have  many  here  on  board  sir,"  said  Weevil,  "  who " 

"  I  know — I  know.  I  ask  no  man,"  said  the  pirate,  "  to  share  m^ 
fate." 

"  That  poor  girl,  sir,  and  the  sailor  who  is  now  a  prisoner  in  the  hold, 
they ^" 

"  They  must  share  my  doom,  for  none  must  live  to  tell  my  secrets. 
Weevil,  when  I  give  the  signal  to  launch  the  boats,  see  all  our  people 
in  them.  Bid  them  seek  the  nearest  land,  and,  if  they  can,  escape  this 
English  bull-dog  at  our  heels." 

The  round  of  another  gun  was  heard. 

"  Look  to  her,"  continued  the  Unknown.  "  Spread  every  inch  of 
canvass  that  will  draw.     Send  me  wine  and  a  lamp.     Wine  !  wine  !" 

Weevil  left  to  obey  him,  and  the  pirate  turned  to  Isabinda  and  bade 
her  sing  to  him  : 

"Let,"  said  he,  "the  pirate's  bird  of  the  wild  waters  die  like  the 
swan.     Sing,  sing  to  me  !" 

*  His  mind  gives  way.     I  cannot  sing." 

"  A  sailor  brought  in  wine  and  a  lamp,  and  immediately  after  he  had 
left,  a  rapid  firing  was  heard,  followed   by  cries  and  shouts. 

*•  Every  moment  gained,"  said  Isabinda,  '•  is  precious.  The  cruiser 
may  yet  overtake  us." 

"  Sing  !"  said  the  pirate. 

"  I  would,  but  cannot.     I  tremble." 

"  Tremble  I  I  love  you  as  man  never  loved  before.  Had  fate  cast 
my  lot  of  life  on  the  dull  land,  I  would  have  been  a  tender  guardian 
to  joa ;  as  it  is,  I  cannot  suffer  another  tc  clasp  jour  form.     Even  in 


'?2  TOM   TBUCK  ;    OB, 

death  you  are  mine.  Ha,  ha !  for  manj  a  day  our  bridal  will  be  rfr 
membered  on  this  coast.  The  pirate  and  his  virgin  bride  !  Destruc- 
tion shall  witness  our  contract,  and  seal  it  with  desolation.  Sing  my 
death,  betrothed  and  doomed  love  ooe.  I  await  the  warrant  of  annihi- 
lation in  your  sweet  music.     I  beseech  you  sing !" 

The  pirate  threw  himself  on  the  floor  and  drank  deeply  while  his 
prisoner,  taking  a  mandolin,  touched  its  chords. 

"  I  cannot  sing.  Spare  me,  and  let  me  prepare  for  the  fearful  end 
approaching." 

Another  gun  was  heard,  and  the  pirate  laughed  while  Isabinda  stood 
aghast. 

"  Laugh  not,"  said  she,  "  for  it  is  so  like  my  fearful  dream." 

"  Tell  nie  your  dream.  I  love  such  mysteries.  My  life  has  been  one 
storniv,  fearful,  terrible  dream.  Tell  me  your  dream,  and  let  me  hear 
at  least  the  melody  of  your  voice." 

"  I  dreamed  that  I  slept  at  home,"  said  Isabinda,  "  and  that  a  ne- 
gro, who  once  had  stabbed  my  father,  seized  me.  He  sat  by  me  with  a 
drawn  knife." 

While  she  spoke,  Tom  Truck  descended  from  above,  and  on  his 
hands  and  knees  crawled  to  Isabinda.  He  touched  her,  and  the  poor 
girl  shrieked  ;  but  seeing  who  it  was,  contrived  to  hide  her  emotion, 
and  continued  : 

•'  He  told  me  my  life  hung  on  his  breath.  I  screamed  then,  for  I 
saw  a  friend  near  me.  I  had  a  hope  of  escape,  but  saw  that  he  was 
unarmed.  I  pointed  out  to  him  that  my  foe  had  at  hand  the  means  of 
destruction — that  he  had  but  to  lift  his  voice,  to  call  his  brother  ruf- 
fians. He  said  he  would  die  for  me,  but  I  bade  him  be  prudent,  and 
pointed  out  where  he  could  conceal  himself" 

"  Did  he  do  so?"  said  the  stranger. 

"  He  did  at  last.  I  threw  myself  thus  on  my  knees,  (and  she  knelt,) 
crying,  '  Oh,  Eternal  Power,  I  implore  thy  aid — save  !   save  me  !" 

The  agitation  of  Isabinda  had  increased,  and  Truck,  understanding 
what  she  meant,  hid  himself. 

The  Unknown  lifted  her  up,  and  said : 

"  Why  should  you  tremble  at  a  dream  ?" 

As  he  spake,  the  sound  of  a  gun  was  heard,  followed  by  a  craso 
that  told  tbat  the  shot  had  not  been  thrown  away. 

"  Hark  !"  said  he,  "  they  reach  us  now :  but  thej  cannot  part  UA 
Vou  are  and  must  be  mine  " 

"  Mercy  1   mercy  I" 


IjnS  WIZAKD   CKEW.  98 

The  stranger  seized  and  clasped  her  in  his  arms.  He  said  :  "  Shrink 
not,  for  folded  in  my  arms  you  will  meet  death.  Stir  not;  no  hope 
can  aid  you.  Stir  not,  if  you  would  escape  what  is  worse  than  death. 
Yet  do  you  shrink  ?     I  have  not  harmed  you." 

Another  gun  was  heard,  and  he  continued,  "  Yes,  by  this  kiss,  you 
are  mine  !" 

Isabiuda  shrieked,  and  he  continued  :  "  Cease  !  Shrink  not  1  This 
kiss !" 

"Help!  helpl" 

"  Here  is  help,  my  lass,"  said  Truck,  starting  up,  "if  I  hang  for  it." 

He  seized  the  Unknown  and  grappled  with  him.  "  Put  out  the 
light,  lady  !" 

Truck  was  no  trifling  antagonist,  and  wresting  a  dagger  from  the 
pirate,  stabbed  him.  While  mad  with  pain,  the  latter  rushed  towards 
the  lamp,  and  had  nearly  grasped  it  ere  Isabinda  could  comply  with 
Truck's  urgent  request. 

The  pirate  shouted  out,  "  Ho,  there  !  deck  !  deck  !  traitors  !" — and 
rushed  again  on  Truck — who  was,  however,  managing  him  very  well — 
when  Weevill  and  others  rushed  in,  striking  the  coxswain  down.  He 
would  have  been  killed  at  once,  when  the  pirate  made  them  forbear, 
Haying : 

"  Hold ;  he  shall  die  a  fearful  death  before  his  comrade's  have  met 
their  doom." 

This  was  the  state  of  matters ;  and  here  we  must  leave  the  party, 
premising  that  from  time  to  time  the  guns  of  the  Wizard  were  heard 
more  and  more  frequently,  and  rapidly  nearing  the  pirate.  It  was  a 
painful  and  agonizing  scene,  condensing  the  misery  of  a  century  into 
less  time  than  it  has  required  for  us  to  relate  it.  Let  us  now  go  to  the 
Wizard  of  the  Wave. 


94 


TOM    niUOK  .    OE, 


CHAPTER    II, 


THE     WIZARD     OP    THE     WAVE. 


The  whole  crew  of  the  cruiser  was  on  deck,  arxiousiy  watching  thi 
shase.  Many  motives  actuated  tliem.  Falkner  sought  to  secure  tbo 
performance  of  the  duty  on  which  he  had  been  sent.  Belford  was 
thinking  of  Isabinda,  and  many  a  seaman  wondered  what  had  become 
of  their  favorite  Tom  Truck,  the  captain's  coxswain. 

Tim  came  on  the  orlop  deck,  and  said  : 

"  They  are  fixing  the  tables  in  the  cockpit,  and  I  am  to  help  the  doc- 
tor in  the  operation." 

A  gun  was  heard,  which  startled  Tim's  nerves,  and  he  exclaimed  : 
"  Mercy !  two  or  three  more  such  sounds  will  operate  on  me  most  un- 
pleasantly.    I  wish  I  could  find  a  gun-proof  box  somewhere." 

Another  shot  was  fired,  and  the  clerk  continued  :  ''  Lord  !  if  our 
guns  aflfect  me  so,  what  will  theirs  do  ?" 

Manly  came  on  deck  and  placed  his  iiand  on  his  shoulder,  which  had 
the  effect  of  bringing  Treacle  on  his  knees,  with  an  exclamation  : 

"  Lord  !  I  thought  it  was  a  twenty-four  pound  shot.  I  have  the 
ague.     Do  you  hear  my  teeth  chatter  ?" 

"  Get  up,  you  fool.  Here  comes  Belford,  wnc  has  brought  the  lieu- 
tenant with  a  horrible  wound  on  board." 

The   doctor  said,  "  Belford  is  wanted    in    the   cabin  ;    and  look  here, 
Mr.  Purser's  clerk,  be  careful   to  report  below  the  state  of  the  chase." 
Yes,  your  honor,"  said  Tim. 

As  he  moved,  another  gun  was  heard,  and  he  paused,  saying,  "  Sifj 
must  I  g)  on  deck?" 

"  Go,  you  devil,"  said  Belford,  "  and  be  quick!" 

*'  Dear  !  yes.     I  wish,"  said  he,  aside,  "  they  may  got  me  en  deck  I' 

"  Manly,  the  governor  is  badly  wounded,"  said  Belford. 

"  Shall  we  take  him  to  the  cockpit  ?  If  the  pirate  fight,  he  will  bo 
better  there." 

"  Go  to  him  at  once  ;  he  were  better  there ;"  and,  amid  the  firing, 
Manly  left. 

Tim  rushed  in,  and  Belford  asked  : 

"  How  is  the  chase  ?" 

"  Pretty  well,  I  thank  you,  sir.  How  are  you  ?"  The  poor  lad  had 
lost  the  little  wit  with  which  nature  had  endowed  him. 


THE   WIZAKD   CKEW  94 

"  This  18  no  time  for  jesting." 

"  Ah,  yes  sir — a  deal  too  fast." 

"  What  do  you  mean,  sir  ?" 

■*  Oh,  sir,"  said  Tim,  "  I  mean  that  her  sky-scrapers  cut  the  watai 
n..h  the  velocity  of  her  binnacle.  Her  helm  is  hard  aport  to  starboard, 
aiiil  her  bowsprit  points  over  our  tafFerel.  It  is  a  certain  road  to 
victory.     Hurrah !     Hurrah !" 

"  Are  you  mad?  Man,  what  does  this  mean?  Raddle  report  to  luc 
the  state  of  things  at  the  next  gun." 

"  Aye,  aye,  sir  ;"  and  the  officer  left. 

Tim  said  to  Raddle  :  "  Do  you  think  they  will  fight  ?" 

"  I  hope  so " 

"  Lord !  I  hope  not.  They'll  make  a  general  from  you  who  saved  a 
female  from  devouring  flames.  You  rushed  magnanimously  in  and 
heroically  out  of  them." 

"  I  did,  with  my  own  Dianez,  whom  I  lost  at  Gibraltar." 

"  I  never  heard  of  any  such  ship  being  lost." 

"  Come,"  said  Raddle,  '•  I  must  go  on  deck  and  report  the  state  of  the 
chase." 

A  gun  was  heard,  and  Tim  said 

"  What  is  the  use?  the  chase  is  reporting  herself" 

"Mai oh,  you  slop-stealing  beggar,  or  I  will  stir  you  up  with  my 
bayonet. ' 

"  Stab  me  in  the  back  I  Lord  !  Lord  !  the  last  of  the  Treacles  will 
be  lost." 

They  kft,  and  immediately  after  a  sound  like  that  of  many  steps  was 
heard  on  deck,  followed  by  shouts,  and  Falkner,  Hearton  and  Manly 
came  below. 

Falkner  laughed  merrily,  and  said  :  '•  Ha,  ha  1  gentlemen,  you  see  I 
knew  the  robber  was  about  to  tack,  and  a  long  reach  now  will  shorten 
our  distance  from  him." 

"  She  is  handled  by  a  true  seaman,  sir,  and  obeys  the  helm  like  a 
court  lady.     It  is  a  comfort  to  a  sailor  to  see  such  things  at  sea." 

"  True,  Manly,"  said  Falkner.  "  There  is  pleasure  in  a  chase  like 
this,  when  I  feel  like  the  poet's  winged  avenger.  The  viewless  winds 
seem  the  coursers  that  fear  me,  and  old  Ocean's  besom  my  battle-field. 
There  is  no  joy  like  the  wild  enthusiasm  of  a  master's  conflict.  I  could 
sing  like  a  girl  in  a  dance,  or  a  sailor  at  a  fair,  or  a  negro  at  Punch 
and  Judy.  My  brave  fellows,  fortune  is  before  you  ;  a  mine  of  wealth 
is  in  that  vessel — enough  to  make  %  cook  a  peer,  if  money  could  make 
«  gentletoan." 


96 


TOM   TKUCK  ;    OR, 


"  Is  the  pirate,  then,  so  rica  ?"  said  Manly. 

"  He  is  rich  as  Croesus.  But  go  on  deck,  Mr  Manly,  and  plump  a 
shot  or  two  into  the  chase.     Spoil  her  wings,  Manly." 

''  Depend  on  me.  sir." 

"  Hearton,"  said  Falkncr,  "  I  never  seemed  more  gay,  yet  to  you 
that  have  known  me  long,  I  will  confess  a  secret  presentiment  of  death 
or  sorrow." 

"  Death,  sir !" 

"  Answer  not.  I  have  no  time  for  words.  Take  these  keys  ;  if  I  falj, 
you  will  find  directions  about  my  property.  For  aught  I  know,  I  was 
born  on  tha  sea,  and  would  wish  to  die  upon  its  bosom." 

"  Born  at  sea  !" 

"  An  old  seaman,  who  brought  me  up,  found  me  at  sea.  I  had  this 
chain  and  locket  around  my  neck.  It  is  the  portrait  of  I  know  not 
whom — perhaps  my  mother.     I  may  never  know." 

A  shot  was  heard,  and  the  captain  sang  out :  "  Bravo,  Manly  1  Did 
you  reach  hor  ?" 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  we  saw  the  splinters  fly." 

"  Good  1     Try  her  again." 

Belford  entered,  and  said,  "  The  governor,  sir,  is  dying  ;  he  raves  for 
bis  daughter,  and  says  she  is  on  board  the  pirate  ship." 

"  Heaven  forbid  !"  said  Falkner.  Hearton,  go  on  deck  and  give 
them  the  benefit  of  your  experience,  while  I  visit  this  unhappy  man." 

The  master  left,  and  Ralph  Raddle  joined  the  captain. 

*'  Our  shot,  sir,  be  playing  the  devil  with  the  pirate,  and  Mr.  Manly 
bid  me  tell  you  they  are  hoisting  out  their  boats."     * 

"  They  have,  perhaps,"  said  Belford,  "  scuttled  the  ship " 

"  And  now,  like  rats,  leave  a  sinking  vessel.  We  must  not  lose  the 
gold,  nor  you  the  lady.  Look  to  her  father,  Belford,  while  I  do  my 
best  to  lay  the  Wizard  alongside  the  enemy.  Cheer  up  man  all  mm/ 
yet  be  well." 

The  captain  left  for  the  deck. 


THE   WIZARD   CKEW.  97 

CHAPTER    III 

THE    DEATH-BED. 

Don  Jose  lay  on  a  couch  in  the  captain's  cabin,  evidently  suffering 
deeply,  while  by  his  side  was  his  Lieutenant  Feraguez,  who,  to  give 
even  a  bad  man  his  due,  had  been  assiduous  in  his  attentions  to  his  un- 
fertuAate  master : 

"Be  silent,  excellenza,  they  say  the  Wizard  gains  on  the  pirate. 
You  will  see  your  daughter  again." 

"Will  they  not  see  my  guilt  ?  I  shall  again  see  my  child — yes,  yes  ! 
It  may  be  to  hear  her  curse  her  felon  father.  The  mocking  world  will 
point  me  out,  and  scorn's  loud  voice  will  cry :  "  Behold  the  cheated 
robber !"  Wo'*  I  had  died  upon  the  shore  in  fire  and  agony,  rather 
than  meet  t*     ^esent  hour." 

He  sap'      ack,  overcome  by  the  effort  he  had  made. 

3e]f  came  in,  and  said,  "  Courage,  sir  I  The  pirates  abandon 
their -vessel,  and  a  few  short  minutes  will  place  us  alongside." 

A  great  commotion  and  shouting  were  heard  on  deck,  and  Belford 
said: 

"  Hearten — Manly — what  news  ?" 

Hearton  replied :  "  A  boat  from  the  pirate  ship  comes  towards  us, 
and  a  female  dress  is  floating  in  the  wind." 

"Hal  my  daughter  I  my  daughter!"  said  Don  Jose;  "I  shall  see 
her  again." 

"  Save  her,  Manly  !  save  her  I"  said  Belford.  "  Heaven  grant  it  may 
be  BO  I '  ani  he  hurried  from  the  cabin  of  the  dying  man. 

"  It  is  plain  they  have  scuttled  and  deserted  the  ship.  I  will  see, 
though." 

Wild  with  joy,  Don  Jose  exclaimed  :  *•  Does  she  sink  ?  Ha !  all  evi- 
dence of  my  crime  sinks  with  her ;"  and  he  laughed  histerically,  until 
be  fainted  in  Feraguez's  arms." 

Falkner  and  Belford  entered  the  cabin,  while  the  noise  and  shouting 
on  deck  continued. 

It  is  a  cruel  disappointment,  Belford.  I  thought,  when  I  saw  a 
female  in  the  boat,  that  the  pirate  relented  and  had  returned  your  lady. 
Courage,  though,  man  1 — she  may  not  be  on  board.  I  have  ordered  all 
in  the  boat  to  be  brought  below." 

"  Steady  !"  "  Throw  the  rope  I"  "  Heave-o  I"  and  similar  nautical 
commands,  were  heard  on  deck  ;  and  a  voice  exclaimed : 


98  TOM   TRUCK  ;    OR, 

"A  wounded  man  and  an  old  woman! — odd  things  to  pick  up  at 
sea  !" 

Hearton  soon  after  entered,  bringing  the  quadroon  woman  in,  and 
also  Weevil,  who  was  desperately  wounded. 

"  Why,  messmate,  I  should  know  you  !"  said  the  captain,  taken  quite 
aback. 

"  Yes — a  sheer  hulk,  and  surging  just  before  settling  down." 

"  Were  you  hurt,  my  man,  by  our  guns  ?"  said  Falkner. 

At  tlie  sound  of  his  voice,  Weevil  started  and  said  :  "What!  can  he 
be  here?  That  voice  !  It  is  impossible;  he  is  at  the  wheel.  Ha  !  look 
you  here !  I  am  going,  old  woman  !  Strange  fancies  swim  before  my 
eyes  !" 

"  Wliy  look  you  so  at  me  ?"  said  the  captain. 

"  I  could  swear  to  the  voice  alone — to  face,  chain,  and  all  but  the 
dress.  Ha,  ha  !  Death  is  playing  his  tricks  on  a  poor  devil.  Woman, 
woman,  look  at  him  1" 

The  old  woman  looked  around  :  "  Safe  on  board  !  the  woman  will 
not  die  yet — and  she  is  not  fit  to  die. 

"  Ha!  he  is  there  on  the  deck!  Old  as  I  am,  I  saw  him  with  my 
own  eyes  at  the  wheel  ;  yet  he  is  here  !" 

She  advanced  to  Falkner,  and  said  :  "  What  can  this  mean?  Let  me 
think — let  me  think  !" 

"  Why  am  I  an  object  of  fear  to  you  ?"  said  Falkner. 

'•  Who  are  you  ?     Speak  !" 

"  I  command  this  vessel,  and  my  name  is  Falkner" 

"  No — Frederic,  not  Falkner,"  said  she  ;  "  I  remember  well." 

'•  What  can  this  mean  ?"  inquired  he.  Who  is  the  female  on  the 
k  -hooner  ?" 

"  It  is  the  governor's  daughter,"  said  Weevil.  "  I  come  to  bid  you 
lay  yourself  alongside,  if  you  would  save  her." 

Nanny,  the  quadroon,  had  for  some  time  been  carefully  eyeing  Falk- 
ner, and  said  : 

"  The  chain,  too  I  Lay  not  alongside  the  pirate.  One  will  live — 
ycB,  one.  I  am  not  guilty — I  am  not  a  murderess.  Do  not  approach 
that  vessel." 

Weevil  sought  to  rise,  and  exclaimed,  in  a  very  angry  tone,  '•  Peace 
you  hag!" 

"  The  girl  is  there,  and  he  loves  her.  Do  you  ?  do  you  ?  Yet  go  not 
near  her.  He  stands  with  a  match  at  the  wheel,  and  has  Bent  thi« 
man  to  urge  you  to  come  alongside." 

**  Devil  of  h— 11 1"  said  Weevil,  "  will  no  one  stop  her  ?" 


THE   WIZAKD   CEEW.  99 

*•'  He  sent  him,"  said  tlie  quadroon,  "  to  urge  you  to  corae  alongside, 
thnt  he  might  fire  the  train  and  blow  all  to  destructiot." 

"  Villain  ! — but  he  is  taken,"  said  Falkner. 

"  Never  !"  said  Weevil ;  '•  he  threatened  to  destroy  himself,  the  ship, 
the  gold,  and  the  girl — and  the  rascal  laughed  triumphantly." 

*'  Let  him  do  it,  but  do  not  lift  your  hand,"  said  Nanny. 

"  Speak  plainly." 

Manly  rushed  in,  and  said,  "  There  is  a  struggle  on  the  pirate's 
deck.      Two  men  contend  and  the  woman  shrieks." 

Belford  and  Manly  rushed  on  deck,  while  Weevil  muttered  to  him- 
self, '-What  can  this  mean? — Truck  was  secured  below." 

I  cut  his  lashings  !"  said  the  quadroon,  exultingly. 

'•  Curse  on  you,  hag  !" — and  seeking  to  rush  on  her,  he  fell,  tearing 
the  bandages  from  his  wound.     "  Let  me  die  ' — let  me  die  !" 

"  This  is  horrible  !"  said  the  captain. 

The  old  quadroon  seized  the  captain's  arm  :  '  Pray,"  said  slie,  "that 
he  whom  you  pursue  may  die  before  you  meet."  She  took  the  por- 
trait from  the  captain's  breast,  and  said  :  "  Listen  !  That  was  your 
mother,  and  the  pirate  is  your  brother.  Your  mother.  Lady  Monte- 
ville,  was " 

Don   Jose    had    partially   recovered,   and    rushed    forward,   saying . 

"  Who  mentioned  Monteville  ?     All  are  dead  save Who,  though, 

are  you  ?" 

He  spoke  to  the  quadroon  ;  and  slowly  recalling  her  features  through 
the  lapse  of  thirty  years,  exclaimed  : 

'•  Yes,  'tis  Manguette,  the  nurse.     Heaven  has  sent  more  witnesses.' 

After  gazing  fiercely  on  him,  she  said  : 

'•  Yes,  Heaven  does  !  Murderer  !  fratricide  !  villain  ! — I  know  your 
guilt." 

She  sprang  at  the  throat  of  the  wounded  man,  and  would  have  stran- 
gled him  ;  but  was  finally,  with  great  difficulty,  torn  away. 

Manly  and  several  sailors  entered  the  cabin,  and  Falkner  placed  his 
hand  upon  his  heart  and  said,  '•  He  never  more  will  see  his  child." 

'•  It  is  the  judgment  of  God,"  said  the  old  woman. 

The  dead  bodies  of  Weevil  and  Don  Jose  were  borne  away,  while 
Falkner  went  on  deck  to  learn  the  condition  of  the  chase,  determined 
*o  inquire  into  all  the  particulars  of  the  mysterious  woman. 

When  there,  Manly  approached  him,  and  said  :  "  All  is  plain,  for  we 
»n  see  that  the  lady  is  a  prisoner  on  deck." 

^  Can  be  bo  my  brother  ?     Oh  God,  I  shall  go  mad !" 


100  TOM   TBUCK;    OB, 


CHAPTER    IV. 

THE    FINALE. 

The  two  vessels  lay  in  the  open  sea,  and  far  in  the  distance,  so 
rapidly  had  they  sailed,  were  seen  the  highlands  of  Cuba.  Even  at 
that  distance,  the  perfume  of  the  land  breeze  was  perceptible — as  great 
a  rebuke  to  the  terrible  scene  being  enacted,  as  if  the  incense  of  the 
altar  had  been  burned  in  the  slaughter-house.  The  occupants  of  the 
decks  of  the  two  vessels  were  plainly  visible  to  each  other,  and  pre- 
sented most  dissimilar  features.  That  of  the  man-of-war  was  crowded 
with  men,  all  watching  the  scene  with  the  greate  *  ««nxiety,  while  at  the 
wheel  stood  the  Unknown,  with  none  near  him  ^^^^^^  '■  ••(.•r'-  Isabinda, 
who  was  bound  with  her  hands  to  the  binnacle.  Through  ttio  bulwark, 
which  the  Wizard's  shot  had  crushed,  lay  an  armory  of  pistols,  and  the 
pirate  captain  stood  gazing  at  her  with  an  eye  full  of  gloating  passion 
and  deep  revenge. 

Isabinda  looked  at  the  pistols   ;<■  '  -'niirgling  to  obtain  one,  said  : 

'■■  Could  I  but  get  one  of  tlu>s<;   .. s,   I  would  at  least  have  life 

and  death  in  my  own  hands.  F.itlirr  father,  sad  was  the  day  when  you 
confided  your  own  honor  and  your  ilmighter  to  the  care  of  an  outlaw 
and  a  pirate.  Merciful  Providence,  pnitect ! — all  hope  is  vain — that 
villain  approaches  me  !" 

The  pirate  drew  near.  "  The  helm,"  said  he,  "  is  lashed  down  ;  the 
running  gear  is  made  secure — ha,  ha  !  we  hold  our  own,  and  the  British 
will  not  easily  regain  the  distance  lost  in  heaving  too  for  Weevil,  Bride 
of  the  pirate,  is  it  not  joyous  thus  to  ride  on  the  wings  of  destruction  ? 
Come,  you  will  love  me  for  this  bold  manoeuvre." 

"  You  cannot  escape." 

"  I  more  than  hope  it."  He  looked  through  his  glass  at  the  deck  of 
the  Wizard,  and  said  :    "  There  is  commotion  there." 

As  he  spoke,  the  sails  of  the  vessel  were  let  fall. 

He  continued,  "  Can  I  believe  my  eyes  ?  They  are  tired  of  this 
chase.  Hoora  !  hoora !  you  coward  dogs  !  What  made  you  leave  this 
noble  boat,  never  before  matched  on  all  the  broad  seas?  They  send  a 
boat.  Think  they  I  will  heave  to,  to  aid  their  trick?  Girl,  you  are 
now  mine  I" 

A  boat  pulled  from  the  vessel  towards  the  pirate,  and  slowly  but 
certainly  grew  more  distinct. 


THE   WIZARD    CREW.  101 

Isabinda  had  forgotten  herself,  and  exclaimed,  "  Father,  father,  shah 
I  see  you  no  more?" 

"  You  will  not ;  you  leave  a  felon  father  to  become  an  outlaw's  bride. 
Aye,  a  fitting  match.  It  is  well  a  fog  is  rising.  The  Wizard  has  lost 
his  magic  wand  ;  they  make  for  the  bay.  By  Heavens,  I  believe  they 
fear  me !" 

And  the  Wizard  did  turn  its  bow  towards  the  land,  and  in  a  few 
moments  was  completely  hidden  by  the  dense  fog  which  nearly  obscured 
ibe  whole  horizon. 

"All  hope  is  lost.  A  reckless  madness  is  now  rushing  on  me. 
Though  the  waters  swept  over  me,  I  would  be  glad  to  die."  She  strug- 
gled to  free  herself,  but  paused  and  said : 

"What  would  I  do  ?  Suicide!  Peril  my  soul's  salvation!  Ob, 
save  me  !  save  me  !" 

She  knelt  at  the  binnacle,  and  the  pirate  stood  by,  closely  watching 
the  closing  mist.  Isabinda  was  however  startled,  by  hearing  a  piece 
of  cord  fall  almost  at  her  very  feet.  She  started,  looked  aloft,  and  see- 
ing Truck,  uttered  a  shriek  which  at  once  brought  her  captor,  her. 
Truck,  in  the  meantime,  hid  himself  behind  the  immense  sail. 

"  What  means  that  shriek  ?" 

"  My  wrist  is  broken,"  said  the  poor  girl,  "  and  the  cords  crush  my 
arm." 

The  pirate  unbound  her.  "  Poor  girl,"  said  he,  "  why  should  I  play 
the  monster  longer  ?  We  must  not  part.  I  will  bear  you  to  a  land 
where  pleasure  waits  your  call,  with  wealth  obedient  at  its  beck.  I 
will  bow  to  you  I  love,  as  I  havo  not  done  to  the  world  I  hate.  What 
might  I  not  have  been,  as  yet  unconquered  in  might  of  intellect  by 
mortal  man,  had  the  pure  eye  of  this  bright  angel  only  smiled  on  me 
before  crime  had  sullied  my  hand  I  We  are  alone  on  the  waters.  You 
are  in  my  power,  yet  I  harm  you  not.  My  foes  are  baffled,  and  I 
triumph.  I  am,  however,  yet  your  slave.  Yes,  I  repeat,  despising 
human  foes,  hunted  and  branded,  I  bow  to  virtue  and  to  you,  a  humble 
slave." 

The  outlaw  knelt,  and  Isabinda,  in  spite  of  her  awful  condition,  could 
but  pity  him. 

During  this  conversation.  Truck  had  descended  the  mast,  and  slowly 
advanced  on  his  hands  and  knees  towards  the  binnacle.  Never  did  a 
cat  advance  more  stealthily  on  its  prey — so  that  he  seemed  rather  a 
moving  shadow  than  a  thing  of  life.  He  gradually  passed  around  the 
mast,  to  the  spot  where  the  armory  of  pistols  we  have  before  spoken  of 
were  deposited.     Selecting  carefully  the  largest  and  apparently  thtt 


103  TOM   TKUCK  ,    OB, 

deadliest,  he  sp^a^g  on  his  feet,  and  seizing  the  robber  by  the  sb^nlder 
said  : 

'•  Now,  Mr.  Devil,  or  whatever  you  are,  surrender: 

'•  Am  I  betrayed  ?"  said  the  Unknown  ;  "  and  he,  too  rapidly  to  b« 
prevented,  discharged  it  at  Truck.  The  old  coxswain  was  not  easily 
taken  aback ;  but,  placing  his  pistol  at  the  pirate's  throat,  returned 
the  compliment.  All  seemed  terminated,  for  the  pirate  fell  on  deck, 
and  Isabinda  fainted  in  the  arms  of  the  rough  soldier.  A  distant 
shout  was  heard,  which  recalled  Truck's  attention  to  what  he  had  to  do, 
and  looking  at  his  jacket,  through  which  his  antagonist's  ball  had  made 
a  hole,  he  said  : 

"  My  precious  eyes  !  Master  Tom,  you  had  a  nice  escape  there  f 
Hark,  Miss,  Marm,  my  lady!  that  shouting  we  hear  is  from  the  boat 
that  left  the  ship  before  this  fog  came  on.  Shall  I  hail  them  ?  for  you 
be  captain  of  this  craft  now." 

"  Do  not.  Perhaps  it  may  be  some  the  crew  who  deserted  the  abip 
and  are  now  on  their  return.     See  if  he  be  dead." 

"  No,  Marm  ;  but  my  eyes  !  is  it  not  like  the  captain — gold  chain  and 
nil  ?" 

"  They  come,  do  they  not?" 

"  Yes,  they  do."  He  cast  the  wheel  loose,  and  said,  "  O,  Lord,  if 
you  have  only  a  catspaw  for  other  people,  give  old  Tom  a  capfuL" 

A  hail  was  heard  from  the  mist,  and  Isabinda  recognized  Belford't 
Toice. 

So,  too,  did  Truck,  who  exclaimed  :  "  That  is  a  trumpet  I  am  used 
io." 

"  Truce  ahoy !"  was  the  challenge. 

^  Truce  ahoy  1"  replied  Truck. 

«  Truce,  ay  ?  That  is  Mr.  Belford's  voice.  I  suckled  him.  Ho  \ 
ho !  give  way." 

During  this  conversation,  the  pirate  captain  had  revived  and  turned 
to  a  spot  where  he  saw  a  hatchet;  with  this  he  advanced  towards  Truck, 
who  was  busy  at  the  helm,  and  would  doubtless  have  cut  him  down,  had 
■not  the  young  girl  called  out  and  put  him  on  his  guard.  The  sailor, 
however,  caught  the  weapon  in  bis  hand,  and  threw  the  villain  on  the 
■deck,  where  he  would  have  despatched  him,  had  not  Isabinda  prevented 
bim. 

"  Very  well,  Marm.  I  won't,  but  he  is  a  precious  chap  I  Curse  me, 
.■tf  he  knows  when  he  is  dead  I  Give  way,  lads,  with  a  will,"  shouted 
iie  to  the  boat ;  "  and  here  goes  for  shortening  the  distance." 

He  placed  the  spokes  of  the  wheel  in  the  young  girl's  hands,  and  eut 


THB  WIZAKD    JBEW.  108 

away  ibe  haljards  and  clew-lines,  and  proceeded  with  the  other  ropes. 
Scarcely  bad  be  done  so,  when  a  boat  appeared  alongside,  and  Belford 
and  the  quadroon  appeared  on  the  pirate's  deck. 

"  It  is  be  !"  said  Isabinda. 

We  need  not  describe  bow  the  young  girl  rushed  into  his  arms,  and 
how  fervently  and  passionately  be  kissed  her.  All  the  troubles  they 
bad  undergone  seemed  atoned  for,  and  the  misery  of  th  j  last  twenty-foor 
hours  lost  in  oblivion. 

Truck  pulled  the  old  quadroon  on  board,  and  would  ba've  .«mbrao«d 
her,  but  she  repelled  him,  and  said  : 

"  Back,  fool !  Is  be  alive  ?"  She  rushed  to  the  pirate,  and  when 
she  saw  his  condition,  exclaimed  :  "  Theodore  1  Theodore  !  Lost — for- 
ever lost !"  f. 

"  Yes,  nurse,  you  have  lived  to  see  the  pirate  founder.  You  must 
lighten  my  death's  darkest  hours.  Is  this  mother's  picture  ?  Was  ft 
placed  on  my  neck  by  her  hand  ? 

*'  Are  you  dying,  Theodore  ?" 

'*  Yej,  I  die — quick,  and  tell  me  !" 

*'  That  is  her  picture.  She  placed  it  around  your  neck  when  the 
murderers  tore  you  and  your  twin  brother  from  her  bosom  and  set  jon 
adrift  on  the  wild,  wild  ocean,  with  your  poor  old  nurse." 

"  What,  nurse,  was  the  name  ?" 

"  Your  father  was  Earl  of  Monteville." 

The  pirate  sought  to  rise,  and  looked  proudly  around. 

"  Then,"  said  he,  "  I  was  born  of  no  common  stock — a  lordly  desoenl 
How  know  you  this  ?" 

"  I  know — I  nursed  you  from  the  hour  of  your  birth.  But  listeni, 
Theodore :  I  come  from  your  brother,  the  brave  Falkner,  with  an  offer 
of  the  means  of  escape.     Your  pursuer  is  your  brother." 

"  Ha  !"  said  he,  "  my  brother  !  Then  no  other  blood  than  my  own 
eould  overoome  me.  Falkner  my  brother!  Therefore  were  we  se 
much  alike.  Brave  brothers  1  Now  I  glory  in  you.  Foundlings  as 
we  were  on  the  ocean,  side  by  side  we  might  have  fought  our  way  to 
fame.  Let  no  one  know  his  brother  was  a  pirate.  Mother,  dear  mother, 
plead  for  me  I" 

The  pirate  kissed  his  mother's  picture,  and  died : 

♦'  The  sceue  was  one  worthy  of  comment.  There  were  two  men  eve» 
physically  alike  and  similar.  The  one,  falling  like  seed  on  the  ground 
into  good  hands,  had  become  a  credit  to  himself  and  bis  country,  while 
the  name  of  the  other  bad  beojme  an  opprobrium.     Many  a  motiMt 


104  roM  TRcrcK  ;  oe, 

throughout  the  Antilles  frightened  her  child  to  sleep,  with  tales  of  thi" 
captain  of  the  Melchor.     All  now  was  over,  the  dread  contest  was  over,  ■ 
and  virtue  and  honesty  had  triumphed  over  vice. 

At  the  time  that  the  pirate  fell  on  the  deck,  shouts  were  heard  in  the 
distance,  which  evidently  came  from  the  ship  which  had  followed  the 
pirate  vessel  in  its  course.  The  Unknown  was  not  dead,  but  started 
up,  and  said,  with  energy  : 

'•  Place  the  girl  in  the  boat  and  leave  her  to  me.  Be  gone  t  Tell  my 
brother  I  would  see  him  on  this  deck  alone — alone  1  But  it  is  in  vain, 
lor  now  I  cannot  escape." 

The  shouts  seemed  nearer  and'  nearer,  and  he  said  : 

"  Th«y  come  I     The  fog,  too,  clears  up.     Away  I  away  P' 

•*  Let  him  have  his  way,  your  honor,"  said  the  coxswain.  "  I  will 
remain." 

"  Ah  T'  said  the  pirate,  "  that  at  least  were  some  revenge." 

"  Theodore  !"  said  the  quadroon. 

**  Heaven  bless  your  kind  old  soul !  Leave  me,  though  leave  me  !" 

The  shouts  grew  nearer  and  nearer,  and  Belford  and  Truck  placed 
Isabinda  in  the  boat.  The  young  man  entered  immediately  after  her, 
and  the  mist  having  by  this  time  cleared  away,  the  Wizard  of  the  Wave 
was  seen  rapidly  approaching  the  Melchor. 

The  Unknown,  during  these  moments,  looked  sadly  on,  and  speaking 
to  himself,  said  : 

*'  No ;  we  will  not  meet.  His  fame  shall  never  be  obscured  by  a 
brother's  ignominious  death.  The  train  to  the  magazioo  is  already 
prepared,  and  it  shall  be  done.     Brother,  world,  hope,  love — all  adieu  1" 

The  outlaw  hastens  to  an  outlaw's  grave.  The  wretched  man  slowly 
glided  from  the  deck. 

"  All  is  right,  your  honor,"  said  Truck. 

The  boat  left,  and  Truck  looked  around  for  the  pirate. 

"  Avast  these  I  Where  is  the  priponer  ?  Some  devil's  work  is  being 
done." 

"  The  train  1  the  magazine  !     I  know  him  well." 

Truck  hurried  from  the  deck,  but  in  a  moment  came  back  aghast. 
Trust  to  me,  old  girl — that  incarnate  devil  has  fired  the  train." 

Truck  took  the  old  woman  in  his  arn+s,  and,  springing  over  board 
swam  towards  the  boat.  He  had  gone  but  a  short  distance,  howevei 
when  the  Melchor  blew  up,  \ni\\  a  noise  wliich  sent  dismay  to  every  soul. 
The  shattered  timbers  flew  in  every  direction,  and  the  pirate  had  gons 
to  hui  long  account  with  that  ship  which  bad  been  the  sceno  of  hif 


THE   wrZAKD   CRETf  106 

atrocities.  When  the  Wizard  reached  the  spjt  where  the  vessel  Lad 
been,  not  a  vestige  was  seen,  and  the  vast  treasures  he  had  on  board, 
among  which  was  that  stolen  by  the  unfortunate  Don  Jose,  had  gon« 
to  the  depth  of  the  sea.  Some  day  we  may  attempt  to  describe  tho 
search  for  it,  and  its  retrieval 


CQNCLUSION. 


THE   HETDHN. 


When  the  explosion  took  place,  the  boat  in  which  Falkner  and  Isa- 
binda  were,  turned  and  was  rowed  rapidly  to  relieve  Truck  and  the 
quadroon.  It  was  time  to  attend  to  the  injuries  he  had  received,  and 
the  weight  of  the  old  woman  sadly  encumbered  him.  The  whole  party 
reached  the  vessel,  where  every  care  was  given  to  I^aabinda,  and  the 
vessel  tacked  and  returned  to  Santiago  de  Cuba.  The  fact  of  the  gov- 
ernor's defection  was  already  known,  and  an  oflBcer  had  arrived  from  a 
neighboring  port  to  replace  him.  To  the  new  comer  Feraguez  endeav- 
ored, in  spite  of  the  wishes  of  Falkner,  not  only  to  shield  the  unfortu- 
nate man.  but  to  hide  every  trace  which  related  to  the  career  of  his 
unfortunate  brother.  It  was  however  impossible  to  do  so,  and  the 
sharp  exigencies  of  the  Spanish  law — the  executioner  and  garrote — soon 
brought  him  to  the  end  of  his  days. 

Donna  Capella  and  her  niece  welcomed  Isabinda  with  kindness  and 
consideration  ;  and  as  she  had  now  no  protector,  the  scruples  of  her 
father's  old  chaplain  and  confessor,  on  the  score  of  Belford's  Protestant 
principles,  were  fin&lly  overcome,  and  she  was  united  to  the  accom- 
plished and  fascinating  lieutenant. 

The  felicity  of  thsoo  arlsnt  lovers  was  now  unbounded.  The  greatest 
demonstrations  of  joy  wore  exhibited  throughout  Isabiuda's  large  cir- 
<de  of  friends  and  acquaintance,  and  the  ceremoniiils  of  the  wedding 
day  were  enlivened  not  only  with  the  wit  oif  Tom  Truck  and  the  face- 
tious det*iils  of  the  bridegroom,  but  with  the  hilarity  and  boisterous 
merriment  of  some  of  the  choicest  spirits  of  the  Britisii  navy — and 
even  the  aforetime  mysterious  Falkner  seemed  now  entirely  divested 
of  his  infernal  traits,  and  exceeded  the  others,  if  possible,  in  cuha.ucing 
tho  already  overflowing  cup  of  joy. 

In  a  few  days  the  immense  quantity  of  treasure  left  by  the  piratC;  &t 


106  TOM   TEUCK  ;    OR, 

the  lovely  Posada  on  the  seashore,  was  taken  on  board  the  Wizard  at 
a  lawful  prize ;  and  the  disclosures  made  by  the  pirate  to  Isabinda  of 
other  hidden  riches,  together  with  the  valuable  jewels  found  upon  the 
person  of  the  governor  at  the  time  of  his  death,  conferred  upon  Bel 
ford  and  his  boloved  bride  a  most  ample  fortune. 

The  Dianez  whom  it  will  be  remembered  Tladdle  had  spoken  of  to 
Treacle,  was  found  to  be  the  one  he  had  lost  in  Malta;  and  at  the 
same  time  that  Belford  aid  Isabinda  were  married,  Dianez  took  the 
brave  marine  for  better  or  worse. 

The  Wizard,  with  her  rich  cargo,  sailed  for  Jamaica,  taking  with  her 
all  who  have  figured  in  our  tangled  web ;  and,  after  a  few  days,  was 
despatched  to  England,  where  Falknet-,  on  producing  the  evidence  of  hia 
splendid  achievements,  received  the  promotion  he  so  richly  deserved. 
Years  rolled  by,  and  the  post-captain  became  an  admiral,  and  the  evi- 
dence which  he  had  obtained  from  the  oW  quadroon  enabled  him  to 
recover  the  title  of  the  Earl  of  Monteville.  Raddle  and  Dianez  were 
dependents  of  his  lordship,  and  lived  happily  and  cheerfully  at  their 
sylvan  home,  which  was  not  far  from  the  castle  of  the  a-dmiral,  the  Earl 
of  Monteville. 

Let  us  pass  many  years.  The  earl  had  married,  and  children  grew 
ap  around  him — the  eldest  of  whom,  the  Viscount  Borden,  saw  and 
loved  the  dark-eyed  daughter  of  Admiral  Sir  Eustace  Belford.  Our 
readers  in  him  will  recognize  an  old  acquaintance,  and  the  occasion 
of  the  marriage  was  celebrated  in  the  richest  manner.  Oxen  were 
roasted  whole,  peasants  danced  on  ibe  green,  and  fire-works  were  dis- 
charged. The  dower  of  the  bride  consisted  of  the  jewels  which  the 
unfortunate  Don  Jose  had  on  his  person  when  he  died,  and  the  settle- 
ment on  the  groom  was  formed  in  no  small  degree  from  the  money  whicb 
the  pirate  had  purloined  from  the  mines. 

All  thoughts  of  unpleasantness,  however,  were  removed,  and  the  union 
of  the  two  families  was  made  complete.  Let  us  leave  them  here,  with 
the  single  statement  that  Tom  Truck  became  the  valet  and  confident 
of  the  earl,  whom  he  used  sometimes  to  berate  atrociously,  and  of  whom 
he  used  to  say,  "  Blast  my  eyes,  if  I  do  not  think  his  lordship,  after  all, 
18  the  devil !" 

Tim  Treacle  kept  an  inn  not  far  from  the  castle,  and  used  to  tell 
admiring  bumpkins  of  the  famous  fight  he  had  with  the  pirate,  in  whicb 
he  won  immortal  glory. 

Manly  died  a  post-captain,  and  Hearten  was  laid  up  in  ordinary,  ai 
the  Master  of  Greenwich  Hospital.  An  henor  was  in  store  for  him. 
Bluff    King   William,   the   miishipraan   king,   the   only   sailor  except 


THH  TMZARD   CEKWT  107 

(JftiiQte  wno  over  sat  on  the  English  throne^  visited  his  peuiionen. 
fiearton  was  in  uniform  ;  and  after  a  full  examination  of  all  the  details, 
and  calling  around  him  those  of  the  old  veterauB  whom  bo  remembered, 
he  turned  to  the  old  master.  He  was  old  and  gray,  and  reTcrentlj 
uncovered  to  the  king,  whom  when  a  boy  he  bad  taught  to  splice  the 
ropes : 

"  Give  me  your  sword,  Mr.  Hearton.*' 

The  master  obeyed. 

«  Kneel  down  i" 

He  knelt 

The  king  placed  the  accolade  on  his  shoulder,  and  said  "  Arise,  Sv 
Philip  Hearten,  a  Knight  of  my  Bath  !'• 

■We  have  disposed  of  all  of  oar  characters,  and  here  end  for  ertr  tm 


fHS  WRSK 


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